The Love of God: Is it in You?
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 says “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of
angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling
cymbal. 2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all
mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could
remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3And though I
bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,
and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
What is life without the Love of God? Nothing! We can have all the knowledge
of Christ’s word, proclaim the word with boldness and accuracy, but if we do
not have the love of God working in us it’s all for nothing. You can give back
to your community, give to the disenfranchised, but if you do not have God’s
love, it won’t be fulfilling. The love of God is without limits or conditions. The
love of God includes: patience, kindness, endurance, faith. The love of God is
not: boastful, prideful, rude, keeps no record of being wronged. These
characteristics reflect the self less nature that God has. Rick Warren, author
of Purpose Driven Life, asserts,
“being self less is not thinking less of yourself; it’s thinking of yourself
less often.” In other words, being selfless is about putting other people’s
needs and desires above our own. Some people will work our nerves. Our
husbands, wives, or significant others may take us there. But if the
unconditional, agape love of God is working through you then we are better
equipped to deal with adversity in relationships. Today, let the love of God
work through you in every situation that approaches you. You’ll find that you
will react a lot differently than you traditionally do. The Love of God: Is it
in you?
In a world where “charity” has been redefined to simply mean giving to a good cause, 1 Cor 13 gives us a deeper meaning to what should be in our heart. I tend to look at it as the internal source of all the loving things that we do for God in others. I love this chapter;
One thing though, while belief most people are “selfish” and could stand to be “more selfless” I believe God’s standard is for us to love ourselves and others equally. I am currently learning to balance this and learning that real love includes loving myself as well as others.
My sentiments exactly, once love as been perfected in ourselves that when and only when, we are able to carry/share the spirit of Love with others.
Give yourself away, there-by God can use you!