Sources: Ligonier.com

1 Corinthians: 13

Priority of Love

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Cor. 13:1).

Love is everything. Without love, we are nothing. Christians are defined by love. It is out of love that we are saved, for God loved us so much that he sent His son. Christ loved the Father to the point of death and obedience. He came here to do the Father’s will even when it cost him his life. Without love, we are nothing. In all aspects of life, in deed, conduct, speech, thoughts, we are to love others out of a thankfulness of the heart. Out of a new desire brought about by the love of the Father. When we learn to love well, we witness to the world of the message that has changed us. Everything flows from love including obedience and prayer. It is out of a love for God, love for people, and love of the Word that we grow in our spiritual walk. God is love, Christians love. When we love well, we live out our calling set before us.

1 Corinthians 13 Love

Selfless Love

“Love is patient and kind … it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful” (1Cor. 13:4-5).

Four aspects of love stand out here. Love is:

Patient and kind, not arrogant or rude, does not insist on its own way, is not irritable or resentful.

1. Is patient and kind

-True love is generous, thinking of others first. It’s sacrificially giving to others what we want to hold on to. How often do we tend to think of ourselves first and not the good of others?

2. Is not arrogant or rude

Love understands that all of our abilities come from God. We can love others by truly trying to understand someone’s perspective. Respecting others with our thoughts and conduct can go a long way. How quickly do we tend to want to cut people off because we have something more important to say? It’s a love of respect.

3. Does not insist on its own way

Love thinks of others first isn’t demanding in doing things one particular way. Love is open to communication and talking things through.

4. Is not irritable or resentful

Love is not emotionally out of control. A person who loves is able to control his emotions well.

Questions to think through:

How do we go from  selfishness to a selfless love?

Which of these areas am I doing well in and which can I work on?

Knowing how to love is helpful. A lot of times I feel like I just read the word love and not know how to start. I’m glad there is direction in this chapter on how to love well. Love is the essence of the Christian life and the virtue that propels us most toward Godliness.  We are God’s instruments that can be used for his purposes and his Glory. We effectively make deposits in people’s lives day in and day out because we love Him. To live well is to love well. Every day. Because without love we are nothing. But with love we are something. In the eyes of God.