Oh the subject of love! Love= more than a feeling.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, 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. -1 Corinthians 13:4-8
How did this part of the Bible, the most quoted at weddings, gain such fame? What is it that draws us? I believe it’s the first part of verse 8 “Love never fails”. This part of the verse brings hope that failure is not in every aspect of life. It’s the hope that there actually is something that will never fail, no matter what. So what does it mean by love never fails? Don’t people fall into and out of love everyday? What about the rising divorce rates not only in our country, but also in other parts of the world? In this age almost half of all American marriages end in divorce. Yeah, that scary but true statistic is real encouraging for marriage hopefuls dreaming of one day marrying the man or woman they will grow old with. There are plenty of facts and life experiences that I’m sure many of us can testify that love does fail at some point. So the Bible is lying about love never fails. You may be thinking, “Wait a minute i thought the Bible never lies! That goes against everything God is about!” Well, actually you’re right! The Bible can’t contradict itself or God. But maybe we are looking at this from the wrong perspective.
I wonder how many of us look at love from the Biblical sense… Love is patient, Love keeps no record of wrongs, Love protects, Love perseveres. The Bible comes right out and tells us love is difficult, otherwise there would be no point in mentioning perseverance. This brings me to ask you a question: What is love?
Is love this feeling of excitement when you see someone semi attractive walk into the room? Is it that moment that takes your breath away when you admire someone? Is it that moment after so long of being single, someone finally sees you the way you prayed someone would see you? What about the tough times? Is that love? Where does love ultimately bloom?
It’s that desire to look at the same person in a new and different way than ever before. It’s when you start person before yourself and your own desires. I think it is also when that person has the same desires that you have. It’s a passion to be better and be your very best for that person. It’s when you have more hopes and more prayers going out for that person than yourself. Love is more than excitement everytime he walks into the room. It’s waiting for him in a serving manner. Like a waitress at a restaurant. You wait and look for him before he even gets close to entering the room. You’re so distracted by this romance that has captured you that you completely forget to think about yourself. All worries and fears are eliminated by this great love.
It is easy to love at first because everything is a spring morning. Everything is new and beautiful and fresh. While the new life of love is delicate, it is expected to tiptoe around carefully not to harm or kill the new love. But what happens when time goes on is what brings about true love. Like fall everything is brittle and easily broken. The winds blow and freedom in speech and action is present. There is no need to be careful around the other person because love is suppose to be real. Meaning the true self comes out. What can one do when the fall comes? We must remember the true definition and example of love- Jesus. Sunday school answer or not, he is the trtue meaning of love. In the fall is when the test of true love comes. We are a generation of taking whatever road is easiest. But true love embraces the difficulties. When this love pulls through it takes on the nature of the kind of love 1 Corinthians talks about.
What is the love in 1 Corinthians? It’s the ultimate love. It’s about the ultimate lover. I want that love. I want that hope that when everything in my life fails I can look to my lover and he is there. He holds out his hand and tells me that we will pull through this no matter what. He tells me that he will always love me. He gives me his everything. I place my hope and trust in him. He is trustworthy and always looks at me as if I have done nothing wrong. I desire to please my great love because he has proven himself trustworthy. This love in 1 Corinthians is way greater than any earthly love. But I too want to be in an earthly romance that mirrors this love. The mirror reflection is no where close to the original but how great it is to be the reflection!
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! -1 John 3:1
I must ask how well I am doing? Am I giving my all? Am I persevering and holding to what true love is?
My last question: “Is love something everyone can participate in?” This I do not know, but I do think that love is not for those who are weak in heart. It takes courage and bravery. Risks and complete surrender are elements of pursuing a true love.
Tags: 1 corinthians 13, 1 corinthians 13 4, biblical sense, rising divorce rates
