This then, the basic human question that we seek to know. What is this thing called love? How do we make it grow?
This week I have been reading 1st Corinthians 13 during my personal devotions. The following is a scattered and brief collection of the thoughts that God has given to me.
The chapter begins by telling us what love is not.
Verse 1: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
So love is not words. Love is not the communication between the lovers, no matter how beautiful and perfect that communication is in the moment.
Verse 2: And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
Love is not a quality or ability. Great personal abilities, like prophecy, knowledge, understanding, and even faith, don't mean anything without love.
Verse 3: And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
Love is not an action. Giving away all you have... even dying for someone... can be done without love. And without love, it means nothing.
So we have learned what love is not. Love is not words, love is not a personal quality, and love is not an action... even the most sacrificial of actions.
(Interesting side note: Who is it that has the tongue of men and of angels? And who has the gift of prophecy, all understanding and knowledge, and the faith to move mountains? And who gave all that he had and then died? The Lord Jesus is the answer, of course. So what the first three verses of 1st Corinthians 13 are telling us is that if the Lord had come to earth and lived and died, without love, it wouldn't have meant anything.)
So, what is love? In John 15:13-14 it says: Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
(Another interesting side note: This love is only possible between believers in Christ. Verse 14 clearly says that this love is for those who follow the Lord's commands.)
Is God saying that love is the action of dying for your friends? Kind of. But it is so much more than that.
Verses 4-8: Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
This is what Jesus meant when he said that we must lay down our lives for our friends. It is not instant death that we are called to, rather it is constant, daily bearing the burdens of those that God has given us while at the same time keeping the state of heart described in verses 4-8.
Mark 9:35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
We are called to be servants, to be greatest we must become the least of all. This is a very hard kind of love because it does not result in a hero's adulation in this world. Real love looks humble and boring. It looks like Jesus washing the feet of twelve dirty men when it wasn't his job. (John 13:1-20) It looks like Ruth serving her mother-in-law Naomi for many years. It looks like Jesus letting his disciples sleep in the Garden of Gethsemane, even though he was at his time of greatest need for support. Love is not saying the right things. Love is not knowing, understanding, and believing the right things. Love is not doing hard things.
Love is having God's perfect image living in you, governing your words, character, and actions.
Love is, simply, love... and Love is hard... But love never fails.
Random thoughts about love that I may weave into analysis later:
Another aspect of love is that it is not something you can do by yourself. In Mathew 22:37-40 it says: ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
True love is only possible in a relationship with God and with God's people. We are supposed to love with all our heart, soul, and mind. This complete love is only possible in and through Christ.
Side Note: The love of husband and wife is meant to be an image of the love of God. Thus, it is essential that both understand what the Love of God looks like and imitate that love in their relationship with each other.
