Without love, I am nothing!

Years ago, I had the opportunity to read 1 Corinthians 13 at my sister’s wedding. This particular passage is about “love”. Often read at weddings, we tend to the focus on it’s application in marital relationship; however, I’ve since come to understand that it’s the goal in all relationships. Let’s take a look at a portion of the passage.

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭1-7‬ NIV)

Focusing on the later half of this passage, one must question whether their interactions with others have these characteristics. Here are few circumstances you might relate:

– A client calls to let you know they’re dissatisfied and leaving,
– A spouse isn’t “loving us” in the manner which we think they should,
– A child doesn’t make the team due to perceived “politics”,
– Another member at church approaches us attempting to “speak truth in love” yet comes across very judgmental.

In these types of circumstances as well as a cast of thousands of other similar types, our flesh desires to violate many of the principles of love outlined. Who wants to be “patient, kind, not self-seeking, not angry” in these circumstances? Boy, I know this is an area I wrestle.

But what if, like Christ, we were able to approach every relationship rooted in these characteristics: “patience, kindness, not envying, not boastful, not proud, not dishonoring, not self-seeking, not easily angered, no records of wrongs, not delighting in evil”? Wow, wouldn’t that be something! I didn’t say it would be easy; however, it would make quite the impact on our hearts and those hearts of those were interacting.

So, let today post be a gentle reminder of what “true love” really looks like and whom we’re to share this love.