The Greatest of These is Love

Saturday night, I had a wonderful opportunity to perform my first-ever vow renewal service for one of our Deacons and his wife. It was their fortieth anniversary and they celebrated with about a hundred friends or so in a beautiful setting. While speaking about the virtues of a godly marriage, the passage from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians about love brought me to my knees (at least in my heart that is).

I suddenly realized that I’ve had a tendency at times to become a little bit like “sounding brass.” That is, I say all the right things to people, but inside my heart, I still struggle with issues that are the opposite of love. I began to insert my name where “charity” appeared and turn each descriptive statement into a question…

• Does Brandon suffer long, like love? Sometimes I’m impatient.
• Is Brandon always kind? At times I become unkind because of a critical spirit.
• Do I envy not? Perhaps this one is not as much of a struggle, but sometimes I do look around and think, “why does that guy have it so easy?”
• Do I refrain from self-promotion? One of the most difficult aspects of ministry is dying to the praise of others.
• Do I refuse to be “puffed up?” Pride is the root of most of our sins, mine are no exception, especially considering that pride takes on different forms.

You get the picture. Love is the principle thing, the most important of all virtues, the defining attribute of God (though He defines love, not visa versa). We can have tremendous faith, be great public speakers, or even servants who bend over backwards, but if we don’t do it all with love, it fails to glorify God and our efforts become wasted. Love is dominating, it’s everything.

I think we sometimes get a little sidetracked by focusing on our outward behaviors and assuming that they will make us holy and godly. The reality is that what happens on the inside of our souls is of far greater significance.

I enjoy stopping at Lambert’s restaurant in Springfield, Missouri. It’s “the home of the throwed roll” and the dining is always a great experience. Just inside the front door is an antique “love meter.” You put the quarter in and it tells you what kind of lover you are. It’s silly, of course, but the principle is worth noting. Why not take Scripture’s love test on a regular basis. Are you loving like Jesus? You see, His name always fits the passage perfectly.