Paul starts his discourse in 1 Corinthians 13 in a most interesting way. He begins with, "And now I will show you the most excellent way" (1 Corinthians 13:1). From there, he launches into what many Christians call the "Love Chapter" of the Bible, defining love:
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."
Love is the greatest choice or action (since making a choice leads to action). Peter declares that "love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8b). Jesus explains to a confused Nicodemus who has just exclaimed, "How can this be?" by telling him, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
Love, no matter what the commercials, advertisements or Valentine Day cards say, doesn't mean never having to say you are sorry. Love means acting as if the other person was you. We all love ourselves; that's pretty easy. I want to make sure I get the best piece of pie, I get all the presents I want, I get served first. However, Christ commanded us to love our neighbors as ourselves. To turn it around, love means making sure the other person is comfortable, the other person gets what they need, the other person enjoys the event. "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28).
Paul wrote to Philemon in regards to his run away slave, Onesimus, who has since become a Christian. The reason for the letter is to entreat Philemon to welcome back his slave as a brother. In his argument, Paul calls on his brother to accept Onesimus on the "basis of love." Even though Paul could have "ordered you to do what you ought to do" because of Christ, he appeals on the groundwork, on the footing, on the foundation of love because an action without love is nothing and love, as Peter pointed out, "covers a multitude of sins".
Love is the first of the fruits of the Spirit. Love accepts and prays for the enemy. "Love never harms its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." Paul began 1 Corinthians 13 with a unique statement and ends with the culmination, the summary of love: "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love" (v. 13).
--HM
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