I suppose we all have had the experience of reading a verse, but not fully comprehending the meaning in it. I can remember a few years ago reading the 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians and suddenly noticing this particular group of words: “Though I give my body to be burned, and yet have not love . . .” One hadn’t thought it was possible-then-that one could give one’s body to be burnt-without love. One would think that love would have to be the necessary motive to make such a sacrifice. But there it was, and the Apostle Paul knew well that both good and evil motives can be disguised.
Let us look at the rest of this chapter, with the aid of Moffatt’s translation. These verses tell us that although our faith were strong enough to remove mountains, it wouldn’t avail us anything, if we didn’t have love. And although we give all we have to help the poor, and have not love, we are as nothing. Why, then, is love more necessary than great intellect, great faith, great deeds of charity, or bodily sacrifice? The definition which follows doesn’t leave us in any doubt: “Love is very patient, very kind; Love knows no jealousy; love makes no parade, gives itself no airs, is never rude, never selfish, never irritated, never resentful; love is never glad when others go wrong; love is gladdened by goodness, always slow to expose, always eager to believe the best; always hopeful, always patient.”
Everyday, and every hour of the day, we must be loving. It brings a constant demand for us to be ever watchful if we are to love as Jesus wants us to. “Love is never rude, never selfish, never irritated, never resentful.” Now we can understand why love is so superior. When things are going smoothly, we get on reasonably well. But when difficult moments crop up, it is much harder and we may feel justified in being either irritated, or resentful, or rude, maybe even all three at once. It is in these difficult times, however, that we are expected to con troll ourselves as at other times. Jesus did, and He is our example. “Love is always hopeful, always patient.” This gives us a picture of a serene person, doesn’t it? And reminds us of that verse in the 119th Psalm, “Great peace have they that love Thy law, and nothing shall offend them”. At those times when we are offended our love for His Law has temporarily weakened.
Love, though abstract, can be demonstrated in the most practical ways: kindness, patience and forbearance, or longsuffering, as it is called elsewhere. This is surely one of the hardest things to be—to really make ourselves easy to get on with, not to be over-sensitive, and always give the other person the benefit of the doubt. And if we are in error, then let us admit it and apologise and the flame of love will be fanned and kept burning.
We cannot fulfil the law of love if we aren’t willing to make sacrifices for each other. This will mean that we can’t always be where we would like to be, or do exactly as we would like to do, but this is as it should be. One poet has expressed it this way: “Love ever gives, forgives, outlives, and while it lives, it gives. For this is love’s prerogative, to give, and give, and give.” And what shall we give? A gift? They are comparatively easy things to give, and very nice, too. But let us give those other precious things: our time, energy, patience, forbearance, self-control. To give these things, so involved with our character building, needs all the effort we can muster.
Anything worthwhile involves effort and hard work. How much, then, should we be willing to try hard to cultivate something as worthwhile as Love! But we won’t do it on our own. We need to be, as it were, constantly in touch with God asking for His help, and thanking Him for His love, which we reciprocate. “We love Him, because He first loved us.” The Apostle John has some beautiful thoughts on love in the 4th chapter of his first Epistle.
The love of Jesus was boundless, and we see it expressed in many ways, including some unsavoury things like touching lepers before He Healed them; washing His disciples’ feet; entering the tomb of lazarus when he has been dead four days. Then there were those times when He was weary and worn out, and longed to be quietly away with His disciples, but had compassion on the crowds that followed, and He talked to them, healed their sick and ministered to their needs generally. Just prior to His crucifixion, when talking to His disciples, Jesus told them three times: “These things I command you, that ye abide in my love. …That ye love one another as I have loved you… That ye love one another.” First a perfect example, then a command to do likewise.
Reflections on the Potter and the Clay