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.
Popular Posts
- Is Lencioni’s The Five Dysfunctions of a Team outdated? 11 views
- “Where there is no vision the people will perish!” 9 views
- Finding Faith in the Wilderness: A Reflection on John Bevere’s “God, Where Are You?” 8 views
- Unlock AI’s Power with CREATE: Your Shortcut to Smarter Solutions 6 views
- Does God speak through yellow birds! 5 views
- Find Out What’s Holding Your Business Back—It Might Be You 5 views
- Unlock Growth: What You Should Start, Stop, and Continue for Success 4 views
- The Anatomy of Trust 4 views
- It’s Time to Declare Your 3rd Quarter Rocks 4 views
- If at first you don’t succeed, you’re in good company. 4 views
Categories
- 5 Part Profit Framework (31)
- AI (2)
- Books (44)
- Business (219)
- Case Studies (6)
- Faith (135)
- Family (83)
- Farm 360 (5)
- Finances (21)
- Fitness (8)
- Freedom (23)
- Friends (25)
- Fun (5)
- Hearing God's Voice (59)
- Leadership (100)
- Leadership Development (69)
- Marketplace Ministry (29)
- Mentor (37)
- Personal (188)
- Retreats (10)
- Speaking (8)
- Strategic Planning (65)
- Team Alignment (60)
- Teambuilding (58)
- Teens (24)
- Testimonials (12)
- TPCC (32)
- TruthAtWork (58)
- What Matters (12)
Leave a Reply