the way of love.

Lately I’ve been so convicted of my selfishness. Yesterday we read 1 Corinthians 13…. “The Love Chapter,” one that is used over and over in weddings, etc. As beautiful as the verses are, how often do we really sit down and analyze what that chapter says? How often do we match ourselves up to these qualities of love, of the love that Christ showed us? How well do we display them? How well do we genuinely and selflessly live them out?

Let’s look at it.

verse 3: “If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.”

The whole delivering your body up to be burned is referring to the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and how they willingly put themselves in a fiery, blazing furnace for the sake of the Lord God. If you do something so sacrificial… if you “give away all that you have”, but do not do it out of LOVE… you have nothing!! How convicting is that! You can act all you want. You can show others that you’re a good person. But if you’re not doing it out of love… displaying that incredible selfless love that Christ showed us on the cross… it will fade faster than you can say the word “love”. It’s LOVE that drives us to do the things we do, or at least it should be. Not selfish gain. Not a better name or reputation for yourself. But genuine, selfless LOVE. I don’t think you can truly love someone and be selfish.

Let’s look at the rest of the chapter:

“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.” -verses 4-7

Let’s think of this kind of love as in the way you love your family and friends. Love is patient. Do you consistently show patience to your parents, especially when they get on your nerves? :] Do you consistently show patience to your friends? Do you show them grace when they are bothering you or do you snap back at them? Think about it. Love does not envy or boast – do you get jealous of the people you love? I’m convicted of this. I definitely get jealous of the people I love, especially my closest friends. Love does not boast. Do you brag about yourself to your friends or family? Are you prideful in the way that you think towards them? Do you think, “Well, I’m just better at this than you…” If you truly love someone, you meet them where they are. You rejoice with them, not just for them.

“It is not arrogant or rude.” – Arrogant – same thing as pride… along with boasting. Rude… self explanatory. Think about the comments you make to your friends that may be considered rude. Even if it’s just sarcasm… be careful. You love people through the way you speak to them. Remember we are called to build one another up! (Ephesians 4:29)

“It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful.” – Love is not about what you want and what you get. It’s about the other person. You put their needs above your own. That’s the selflessness factor. ;]

Irritable. How often do you get irritated with the people you love? So often. Next time you’re feeling irritated, remember this verse and ask the Lord to show you how to love that person through the irritability. It’s tough.

“It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.” – Love rejoices with the truth – living out the Gospel. Love rejoices in doing things that glorify the Lord. Love rejoices with brothers & sisters in Christ and shares in their victories. As I mentioned above, it’s a lot easier to rejoice for someone from a distance, but it’s so much more rewarding to the other person when you rejoice with them… meaning you’re right there, at their side, celebrating their victory or blessing.

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” Notice the wording here. “Bears” and “endures” are synonyms. “Believes” and “hopes” are somewhat synonymous too – believing in something and hoping in something, right? Love believes in the best of others and hopes the best for them. Do you love your friends through hoping the best for them and helping them get there? Do you endure the painful times with them, or are you a “fair weather friend,” only around when things are good? Life is tough! We need each other to help us endure those hard moments. Love endures fights. Love endures arguments. Love bears one another’s burdens. Think about it.

I challenge you to write down this passage somewhere and look at it daily. Ask the Lord to help you love those around you in the way that Christ has loved us. Look at these verses carefully – think about how Christ has loved us through each verse. His patience with us when we are stubborn and go our own way… His kindness… His humility (dying on a cross… wow)… He is always with us – He will never leave us nor forsake us (love bears all things… endures all things…)
Let us strive to imitate Christ through the way we truly love those around us. :]
In His love ~
Keri

BTW – I think this video is incredible. You may have seen it, but watch it again. It seriously almost makes me cry every time I watch it. :] THIS is LOVE, people!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyheJ480LYA