Why Bother?

Author: Pastor Kevin Mann

1 Corinthians 13:4-7—Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Have you heard this scripture before? Your answer is most likely a “yes!” You may have heard it quoted at weddings, and rightfully so. This is the most challenging scripture to practice for obvious reasons. Somehow, along the way, we were taught to see many negatives in people, which led to a judgment of sorts. However, let’s first look at why developing an authentic relationship with Jesus sets an example in following our key scripture.

Let’s look at Romans 5:8. “But God showed us his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

This is the basis that drives our love for Jesus. Regardless of the number of sins we have committed, Jesus died for us as a living sacrifice so that if we believe in him and what he did for us, we can enter heaven forever! However, this belief doesn’t give us a reason to continue repeating our sins. Accepting Jesus in our lives and seeking a genuine relationship with Him will not make us perfect but make us willing to live righteously. There is no greater love than what was shown to us when He committed Himself as the ultimate sacrifice. If we truly accept this meaning and Jesus into our lives, it paves a path for us to love others even when it does not make sense.

Re-read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 once again but read it much slower this time.

How did it make you feel?

When I first read this and many times after, I thought:

“No way am I going to be patient with someone who just doesn’t get it?”

“I have a right to be jealous of someone else’s accomplishments because I worked harder than they did to achieve status.”

“Do I want to be correct at all costs to win the battle?”

“I will not forget how many times this person did this or did that to me or others, which led to these hurts. In turn, I will remind them repeatedly how the hurts made me feel.”

Or how about this one?

“No one knows what my circumstance feels like unless they were in my shoes, so I have a right to hold a grudge against someone for as long as I want!”

Truth be known that we torture ourselves more than anyone else when we have these feelings. I have experienced and demonstrated every negative act that this scripture represents. How did I eventually move forward? I studied the scripture, which showed me just how deep His love is for me.

Many scriptures demonstrate God’s love, His forgiveness, how He shows that He does not forget us when we experience the low times in our lives, and most of all, as it states in Romans 5:8:

“But God showed us his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”

If you can hang on to this and meditate on it, then building, resolving, and having solid relationships will come your way. Remember that He loved us first.

Keep in mind, when seeking to form new relationships, always know there is a story to discover, and more than likely, you will be surprised by what you learn.

Reflection

Ask Jesus to show you where you struggle regarding 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Once again, read it slowly and then act on it appropriately.