The Message of Love

Many a times when someone talks about the Bible and the word God, they get weird and irritated looks from people. This is probably because of bad experiences from Christians – those people who should be talking and living the truth, but they turn around to abuse and mistreat people. Religion has caused a lot of problems, sadly. But then, those problems shouldn’t stop a good Christian from doing what is right.

Today, I want to talk about love. Everything about love is summarised in 1 Corinthians 13. I chose this chapter because it’s one of my favourites. It all begins and ends with love. Without it, the world would be chaotic. Let’s take a look.

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I may be able to speak the languages of human beings and even the Angels, but if I have no love, my speech is no more than a noisy gong or a clanging bell. I may have the gift of inspired preaching, I may have all knowledge and understand all secrets. I may have all the faith needed to move mountains but if I have no love, I am nothing. I may give up my body to be burnt but if I have no love, this does me no good. 1 Corinthians 13 : 1 – 3.

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The verses above said everything about how important love is. One who doesn’t have love in him is like a generator with no petrol to power it. This goes beyond Christianity. Whether a Christian or a non-Christian, love is a powerful force that drives everyone. Say for instance, your friends does something that really hurts. Your first thought will be to talk to your friend and find out what’s wrong. The love you have for that friend keeps you from retaliating. For strangers, it’s still the same thing. This is someone whom you’ve probably never seen before and can’t actually say you love, but then, the love of God in you keeps you from lashing out. You pause and try and understand the situation first. Some may say it’s common sense but it’s beyond that. Just yesterday, I read about a man who beat up another, broke his jaw, left him with wounds and landed himself in prison only because the other person threw a piece of brick at him. Some people are so devoid of love that the only language they understand is violence. With love, things like that wouldn’t happen. Love leaves you with a kind of peace that makes you want to give.

The passage above also talks about preaching. If you have no love in you, you can’t tell the next person that this is the right or the wrong thing. This is because you cannot even identify them yourself. It may seem alright to you but deep inside, there’s a void that only love can fill. Your speech will yield no fruit because you cannot give what you don’t have.

From verse 4 down talked about the attributes of love. Everything else may expire but the love of God doesn’t. It is patient and kind. It is what makes you want to help out the next person. It is not selfish. It is what make you want to give back. It is also what makes you want to settle a dispute for the sake of peace. Love begets peace. That’s why most times, you hear people say that they love someone and are at peace with them.

Lastly, verse 13 says: meanwhile these three remain: faith, hope and love; and the greatest of these is love.

Faith without good works is meaningless. Hope without love is, well, hopeless. Like I said in the beginning, it all begins and ends with love.

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Thanks for reading!
What are your thoughts?