Tuesday, September 10, 2013

How To Love


“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.  Love never fails.” (I Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV)

Yesterday I wrote that love within the church is what makes an impression on those outside of it.  But what does love truly look like in that setting.  For those whose only understanding of love is viewed through the lens of romance, it can be difficult to comprehend.  Yet, the Apostle Paul lays it out quite simply.

Love is patient and kind.  There are always going to be brothers and sisters who frustrate us for any number of reasons.  They may be unorganized, annoying in their behavior, or slow to understand some things we find obvious.  To love these folks is to be patient with them and not go off on them out of frustration.  Treat them as you would want to be treated.

Love does not envy, boast, exhibit pride, nor is it self-seeking.  Many church fights and splits occur because of jealousy and arrogance. People want what they want and when they have it, they often boast about their influence or position, and if they don’t get it, then they throw a fit.  Often this involves seeking roles of leadership and authority, or desiring the music or décor that most suits their tastes.  In the end, everything is self-focused.  Love is just the opposite.  It’s not about us; it’s about serving others and bringing glory to the Lord.

Love is not easily angered, nor does it keep a record of wrongs.  Life rarely goes the way we want it.  People choose to do things differently than we would prefer.  And often those choices can hurt us.  Love in these times is full of grace.  It lets most things roll off and the harder things it forgives.  As Paul says to the Colossians,  “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13 NIV)

Love rejoices in the truth and never wavers from it.  It is fashionable these days to make love very generic and divorced from truth.  Love, in this view, accepts any beliefs or lifestyles as legitimate and valid.  Such an understanding of love fails to comprehend God as both love and truth. We must love people as described above, but never rejoice with them in beliefs or lifestyles that contradict what God says is true.  

Today, if you want to love your brothers and sisters, then Paul has given you a fairly straightforward way to do it.  It won’t be easy, but it will make quite an impression.

© Jim Musser 2013

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