Into The Breach – How A Christian Man Lovesنموونە

Day 7 — Unfailing love

Read: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Any gift we give to another means nothing unless it is a symbol of the gift of ourselves. Any gift without love—whether it be an obligatory gift, a guilt gift, or an impressing gift—is just an illusion. Yet when a gift is a real expression of our love for another, it makes the gift more valuable than any amount of money could buy.

Paul speaks about some of the gifts that God’s Spirit gives to individuals in the church: the gifts of eloquent speech, skilled preaching, intellectual knowledge, heroic faith, generous almsgiving, and even martyrdom (vv. 1-3). Although all of these are capable of making important contributions to the community, they are useless if they are used to glorify oneself, impress others, or any other reason than giving oneself to the community in love. Even the most wonderful gifts, if given selfishly, are not really gifts at all. 

Paul lists fifteen characteristics of real love that we could use to test the genuineness of our love for others (vv. 4-7). This love is never focused on our own wants but is always longing for what is best for others. If we are possessive and clinging, our relationships become jealous and conceited. True love doesn’t brood over the past but forgives mistakes. Always seeking the truth, love tells others what they need to hear and is able to receive helpful criticism. 

Whatever we give or receive as a gift is always temporary and incomplete. Even the gifts of the Spirit are fleeting. The only thing that lasts is the love within the gift. Love alone is eternal. When all the gifts of this world corrode, only the love within the gift remains. 

REFLECT: How can I make my gifts more valuable for others? 

PRAY: O God, who has given us only one life that soon will pass, help me to realize that only what’s done for Christ, only what’s done with love will last.