PERFECTED LOVE
Father God, we are so honored to be called sons and daughters of the Most High! You are our God, King and Father, and we love You. We acknowledge that Jesus is Lord and His victory on the cross set us free from the law of sin and death! Hallelujah!
This article is Part 3 on the Principle of Giving. In Part 1 we discussed how in Christ, we can overcome anything, no matter how great the challenge. We talked about how God sometimes does not remove the “mountain” in our life and that we then must climb it all the way to the top, for that is where the view is spectacular. In Part 2 we discussed how our feet often keep slipping when we climb the “mountains” of life, often leaving us despondent with a feeling of wanting to give up. We were reminded that night is at its darkest just before sunrise and God wants us to trust Jesus and not give up, for when things look like it is not going to change, it is then when the breakthrough is near. Whether our experiences have been good or bad whilst climbing life’s “mountains”, we need to share it with others to make their climb easier. If you missed Parts 1 and 2, click here to read these articles:
Today I would like to talk about perfected love. 1 Corinthians (Cor) 13:1 – 13 says:
“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. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now, we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
When I read the above scripture, I realise that with life already filled with so many challenges, it is not easy to keep faith. Our faith is daily tested, pushed to limits which we never thought existed. Yet, when we persevere (Rom 5:3 – 5) and stand steadfast in faith during a test period, the end is always victorious. That experience becomes another tick in our box to share with others, as it becomes our life stories to our loved ones and friends. With the above said, we know that faith is not easy. We must believe that we received it from God and then exercise it, without doubt. God says in 1 Cor 13 that if we have faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, we are nothing. For me, it says that to move mountains in faith is what God has intended for us to do. However, we often fail at this and therefore we continuously try to work at increasing our faith. I don’t necessarily think it is about increasing our faith because God has given us the full portion already, when He blessed us after we gave our hearts to Jesus. For me, it is about exercising our faith, without doubt. So, if God says that although we have the faith to move mountains but have not love, we have nothing; then what does it tell us about love?
With the above said and further reference to 1 Cor 13, it is from a Christian perspective something very big to be able to not just realise you have faith to move mountains but to exercise it. The same with being able to speak in tongues, prophecy and to fathom all mysteries and all knowledge. All of this is such a blessing to be able to exercise and yet God says that even if we have all of that but not love, we have nothing. We might have all the right and perfect “qualifications” as listed above to work for God, but that does not mean we take it to the next level. He goes on to say in 1 Cor 13 that even if we take it to the next level, by giving all we possess to the poor and giving over our bodies to hardship but still have not love, we still gain nothing. Once again, what does that tell us about love?
At the end of 1 Cor 13, God tells us that there are three things: faith, hope and love. He is very clear that the greatest of these is love. For me, when I read 1 Cor 13 again, for the first time it stood out for me that it was not just about a love chapter to read at a wedding and it was not just about loving our neighbor. Yes, all of that is true, but the Holy Spirit also revealed to me, that love is not just the greatest, but also the hardest to execute. God says it clearly because He says that although we do all the other great things as listed in 1 Cor 13, and we do not have love, we have and gain nothing. Therefore, if we, who are in Christ, are having difficulty to exercise all the other gifts to the level God intended us to do, how much more difficult is it not, to love?
Dear reader, what is amazing, is that God is not asking of us to do something He does not know or understand. Jesus Christ Himself, experienced the ultimate test of love. He exercised all the other things God gave Him, for He is Lord and nothing was and nothing is impossible for Him. He healed people, spoke words of wisdom and prophesied of what is to come, without any doubt or hesitation. Then came the ultimate test of love when Jesus Christ had to go all the way. He was falsely accused, slandered, beaten, flogged, humiliated and ultimately crucified, as if he was a murderer. Jesus knows why God said that love is the most excellent way, the greatest of all. He knows also that it is not easy, for whilst He had to see through the ultimate act of love, He also felt alone and asked His Father why He had forsaken Him. God did not answer and we might ask why? Jesus already knew the plan. He knew it was going to cost His life, yet all the sins of mankind upon Him on the cross was severe and He called out to His Father. His Father did not answer Him for Jesus had to go all the way to overcome death and therefore satan, so that we can have eternal life through Him. Jesus says in Revelation 1:18: “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Jesus perfected love and therefore He is perfect love.
When we talk about love, there are different kinds of love. There is a love for God, love between family members, love for your country, love for your children, love between a husband and wife, love for a friend etc. Normally, it is not difficult to exercise love when it is something or someone special and close to you. Yes, like everyone else, even people who love each other, we all go through difficult times and then, for obvious reasons, it might be more difficult to show love. However, 1 Cor 13 tells us that it is not easy to love. It also tells us that love 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 does not delight in evil and it keeps no record of wrongs. I don’t know about you, but for me, it is not always easy to avoid these things when I have emotions of disappointment or trust in someone. That is why God says that even if we can do great things, but have not love, we have nothing. Therefore, on our own we can’t do it.
How then, do we exercise love, not only to the ones we love, but to our enemies? There is only one way and that is Jesus Christ. Jesus is perfect love and without Him, we can’t exercise the love spoken of in 1 Cor 13, which says that love is patient and kind, it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres and never fails. We also need to remember that when Jesus exercised true love on the cross, He held nothing back and put us before Himself. It hurt, it was hard and yet He did it. What I am trying to say is that perfect love does not always mean sunshine and roses. Often it goes with pain.
For example, when a parent need to reprimand a child who continuously disobeys, it might involve some form of punishment which is not pleasant for the one who receives it and neither for the one who gives it. When someone steals from the office, you can investigate and give a warning but if it persists, you must start the termination process even though you know that the person has a family to support. Then, there might be the person who has done you wrong so many times. To love such a person is not easy but with the love of God you can forgive, heal and forget. You might say, never! Well, in your own strength you might not get it right, but with the perfect love of Christ, you can forgive, heal and forget. The memories, although not fond, can then be used for testimonies to help others.
Dear reader, we know from the above and 1 Cor 13, that to love is not easy. Let us not try to do this on our own, for we will fail and be disappointed. Let the love we give to others be Jesus Christ, ultimate and perfect love.
Love in Christ, Princess K
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