Love

recently i had a conversation with someone about love and the selling of things that possess us and i immediately thought of 1 Corinthians 13. Paul writes in verse 3, “If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing”. sort of a reverse side of that same coin is what he writes in chapter 10, verse 31; “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” from all this it seems that performing outwardly noble and charitable acts with ill intentions will not profit us in the least, while seemingly normal, everyday things can be great if carried out with sincere gratitude and humility.

this conversation eventually evolved into the question, “if love is not found in simply carrying out the acts of love, where is it to be found”? it’s an idea that can paralyze us. i could sit at my desk all day thinking “i could pray and go visit the sick and feed the hungry today, but if i don't have love, then what’s the point?” i don’t think we should use the verse that way, as a safeguard against obeying Jesus. He so clearly taught to carry out works of mercy (in many cases, without any “if i don't have love” stipulations), and i’m not sure if the amount of self-examination of our motives relieves us of our duty. to answer this in familiar fashion, just think about this famous quote, “take the bull by the horns,” quit theorizing and do what the scriptures teach.

i don’t think should complicate our understanding but simplify it: whether doing something big or small, make love the source and the end… but what is this love? i think we already know to some extent, but chapter 13, verses 4-7 explain it beautifully:

“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.”

but again, how do we find it? if it seems like i’m avoiding the question, i’m sorry. i want to rattle off spiritual disciplines (prayer, meditation, fasting, submission, service, worship) or put together a scientific and rational sort of summary: “find the perfect balance between though, emotion and action” – this is alright, but i’m trying to resist the urge to present a neat package, a list of steps to love – perhaps i don’t have any answers. i have questions myself, and my suspicion is that i will and should never find complete answers in this life. otherwise, in arrogance, i may think i’ve come to comprehend that which is beyond my comprehension. that doesn’t mean that we should stop seeking… seek always. may God grant us this mystery of love…someday…and keep us humble…