What is Love
His Comments
Her Comments
Scripture:
- If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
- And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
- If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
- Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
- or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
- it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
- Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
- Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.
- For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
- but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.
- When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
- For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
- So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Thoughts:
This month, my wife decided we would talk about 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and cover the topic of “love.” Part of the enjoyment of these devotions is having her choose the topic and then seeing what she chooses to focus on vs what I choose to focus on.
In Corinthains, the Apostle Paul is writing to the church in Corinth. Corinth was a bustling city that grew and benefitted financially from being on a busy trade route, but that route also brought with it a lot of sin. The Philosopher Plato and the playwriter Aristophanes wrote about the sexual immorality that Corinth was known for. Corinth was also known for its religious diversity and corruption.
These sins crept into the church that Paul established, causing discord among the congregants and the leaders. While we can apply the lessons Paul teaches about in Corinthians to believers and non-believers alike, the backdrop for this letter is the church in Corinth and its congregation. I included all of chapter 13 above to give further context as to what Paul is talking about in verses 4-7. Some within the church were using their gifts, be it speaking in tongues, blessings of money, or knowledge and understanding, but they were not doing so with love. The people with the blessings were using their gifts with a prideful heart, and those without the blessings were looking upon those who had them with envy. There was a lack of love from both sides, and in chapter 13, Paul lets them know that these blessings will fade, but love will be everlasting. Verse 13 summarizes Paul’s message nicely, “Faith, hope, and love abide … the greatest of these is love.”
Chapter 13 is one of those chapters where I could devote a month to reading it each day, and each day I would find a way to improve my walk with Christ, and grow in faith, hope, and love. This growth would come in the form of being humbled by ways I can improve while also discovering ways I’ve fallen short. As a focus for today, I would like to discuss when Paul says in verse 2-3: “But have not love, I am nothing … I gain nothing.” He follows these statements by telling us what is and what is not love. I find it very humbling and eye opening to read Paul describing love and saying without it, he is nothing and he gains nothing. “If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned,” but if he does it without love, it is for nothing! Powerful. This adds a layer of context to Jesus’ quote from Matthew 16, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” None of the blessings described in chapter 13 matter when they are not done with love.
According to 1 John 4:8, “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” Putting all this together, we can see how doing “good” deeds, without love, apart from God, is of no benefit, because the world will fade and we will die. I remember reading Matthew 5 after I became a believer and passages 46-48 taking hold. To paraphrase, if you love and greet your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the pagans do the same?
It is only through our faith and hope in God and using the blessings He provides us to love others, that we can share the Gospel. We love because He first loved us, and everything apart from God will fade, so when we share with love, we are sharing our faith with them.
As I prepared the devotion for the month, I started thinking about Mother’s Day and my mother. Then I thought about my grandmother and other women in my life – both alive and those who have passed away. This led me to think about all my family and friends, the love I have for them, and the love I show them. This is where my devotion begins.
In the passages above, God’s description gives a clear explanation of love. As I’ve said many times, the Bible has the answer to everything in life. We just need to continue reading, trusting, and applying scripture to our lives. Notice that the passages list many ways love can be experienced in life. We experience love differently depending on the relationships in our lives, but all are meant to reflect God’s design for love.
While thinking about these verses, I considered the different ways I’ve told people I love them. I have told many people in my life, “I love you.” It is not just my husband or family members, but my friends as well. When students tell me they love me, I tell them I love them, too. I tell the ones around me that I love them all the time. I especially tell my animals that I love them, although I believe all but two love my husband more than me!
Although there are times when saying “I love you” feels a little awkward with certain people, that is okay. I also tell people I love them in nonverbal ways. While people do need to hear that they are loved, they also need to feel love. Sometimes showing love can take the form of filling the coffee maker for the next day or filling up your spouse’s gas tank without them knowing. It can also be donating canned goods to those in need, giving rides to those who need, calling a friend to just check in, respecting others, and treating people as valued members of society. It is the little things in life that show love, and those little things matter.
When I look back at my friends and family members who have passed away, I wonder if I made that love known to them. Did they die knowing they were loved, and that I loved them? That is a humbling thought. I always think there is more time; assuming they know I love them. In the back of my mind, I know people make time for what is important, but there are moments when I’ve let other priorities get in the way of expressing love. This is what we might call misplaced priorities or, in modern terms, “main character syndrome.”
We all go through seasons of misplaced priorities. That can take the form of not responding to emails, phone calls, text messages, or ignoring times of fellowship because you are too busy. When we do this, we must be truthful with ourselves and take accountability for not making time for others. It is okay that you are busy and cannot do more than one thing at a time. This happens. However, when this becomes your mantra, or when you say it to someone all the time, you may be unintentionally communicating that your time or priorities matter more than that person or situation. While this is not necessarily bad, you should be honest with yourself about what you are saying and if this is your intention. If this is not your intention, then you should pray and work towards correcting your actions or attitude.
To bring this back to Mother’s Day, but this applies to all holidays and special days, I do not want us to think we only need to honor our family, friends, and relatives only when the calendar lists a holiday to do so. It is great to highlight them on a special day, such as mothers on Mothers’ Day, but we need to show love throughout the entire year. Not only should we do acts of kindness, but do not be afraid to tell others, “I love you, and God bless you.” Each day is a blessing and gift from God, so be sure to make the most of it and share God’s love with others.
Thoughts for this week:
- How can you intentionally show love to others throughout your day?
- Have you been more focused on saying “I love you,” or showing it?
- Which type of love (family, friends, strangers, God, self) do you struggle with most?
- Is there someone you need to reconnect with or forgive?
God Bless.