Pastor Shawn Carter
Meadows of Dan Baptist Church
As I was praying on what to write for this column, an overriding thought came into my mind. The timing of the article is going to be after Valentine’s Day and the topic of love is so needed in our world today. This revelation got me to thinking of writing about love. However, I want to look at love as the Bible teaches, and not like the Valentine’s Day marketers suggest. Instead of diamonds, expensive flowers, or chocolates, let us see what the Bible tells us about lasting love.
We will find the life impacting truths about love from 1 Corinthians 13:1-8. I am going to write out the text and then will share some thoughts about how love can change our life. Before you read the following scripture, stop and say a short prayer asking God to speak to your heart and asking Him to show you what He needs you to know.
Paul the Apostle says, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.”
Often when we are next to someone who is experiencing hardship, we think we have to say something or keep them in conversation. The reality is, love is listening to them, holding their hand, or giving them a safe space to let out their emotions. If there is a one thing our world needs right now, it is authentic love that cares for others. We must see that people need a shoulder to cry on and a hand to hold, rather than our opinions. When God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone,” He was conveying the truth that we humans need other humans to do life with. Show love by just being there for others.
I can remember when I was in first grade and the teacher talked about the Golden Rule. The Golden Rule is the principle of treating others as you want to be treated. When we look at the 1 Corinthians 13 scripture, we see that concept at its fullest. Paul shares about how love is patient and kind. We clearly see in our world today a need for patience. I am so glad that God waited and was patient with me. I went my own way for many years, yet God did not give up on me. Now that I walk with God, I am learning how to be kind to others while they are on their own journey. Show love by being kind and extend patience to those around you.
Have you ever got into a situation where you had to do something that was hard and required you to continue doing that very act until it was done? My dad would have me help him fix tractor motors by holding a light, while at the same time holding the part he was attaching to the motor. He would see my arms grow tired and would say to me, “Boy you got to learn how to bear it.” When Paul tells us that Love bears all things, he is telling us that we must hold up others in their time of need. Sometimes it may get hard to do, but we must learn how to bear it.
Finally, we need hope. The Bible says that love hopes in all things and believes all things. The truth is that this world will have lots of pain and tribulation, but we can have confidence that God will always be with us. I want to leave you with some verses that will bring you hope for the future. I leave you with these verses so that your love and hope will grow stronger.
1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Psalm 33:20-22 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.
