1 Corinthians 13:4-8a — “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8Love never fails…”
What a great passage of scripture! There are those in the body of Christ who think they are somewhat inferior when they read the previous chapter (1 Corinthians 12) and wonder where their giftedness is. Everyone can’t be an apostle or a prophet (12:29). But everyone can love.
Paul very eloquently states emphatically in today’s reading that you can have all the gifts but if you don’t have love, those gifts are meaningless. This adds punch to the idea that the way you carry out ministry is extremely important. Leaders should understand that there is more to it than just “getting it done.” Let’s consider what love is and what love isn’t to make sure we are fulfilling God’s highest calling.
Love is patient, kind, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. But sometimes the easiest way to describe what something is is to describe what something isn’t. Love does not envy, does not boast, and is not proud. It is not rude, is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs (alright, stop counting other’s transgressions. Put away the file you’ve been keeping, and stop bringing up the past). Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. Don’t get happy at other’s misfortunes (I know they had it coming to them but make sure you act in love).
Finally, Paul lists the things that are going to fail and be no more. But he says in verse 8 that love never fails. May our conduct and conversation be saturated with love. This is how we show ourselves to be God’s children according to 1 John chapter 4 … for God is love (1 John 4:8).