1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is one of my favorite stories. I like the transformation that happens to Ebenezer Scrooge from a hateful, greedy and unmerciful man to a man who is generous, loving and kind. Ebenezer has wealth, health and financial wisdom. Ebenezer has everything to be successful but is in reality living an empty, hollow life. The missing element is brotherly love. His greed clouded his vision and saw everyone as a threat; scammers, lay abouts, and cheaters. It was an empty life until he added love to the mix. Love and kindness opened the door to healing broken relationships and building community with others.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 is warning of a similar structure to our faith. I can have all the faith, wisdom and spiritual gifts and not actually move the Kingdom of God forward. The absence of love and grace nullifies the transformational power that faith can have. When I was growing up in church, I saw men that had faith, knowledge of the Bible, and had the ability to teach and lead. I saw these men who seemed to be mature spiritually, crumble when difficulties came up in the church family or their own personal lives. Looking back, I see that they were checking off a to-do list of spiritual things they need to do or acquire. This turned their faith into task-oriented rather than relationally based. The absence of grace, compassion and kindness stifled deeper connections and often missed spiritual need in others.
This is why without Christlike love involved in my faith, I will continually be spiritually immature. The basis of my salvation, my faith, is the love of God. Love is the foundation that my faith is built upon. Jonathan Swift, who wrote Gulliver’s travels, wrote: “We have just enough religion to make us hate but not enough to make us love one another.” Vs. 1- “But have not love, I am a noisy gong” ESV. The goal is to be motivated by love. I need to check my motivations; make sure I’m not checking things off my spiritual list but moving as Jesus would. How do I love better? Look at Jesus' example. Time and time again He put people first. People matter; checklists don’t. Spirituality without love is not Christlike; it's an empty, hollow shell of who I am supposed to be. Examine your motivations for your faith. Are they goal oriented or relational? Show love to those around you and see the difference in spiritual impact that will result. Love like Jesus.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 is warning of a similar structure to our faith. I can have all the faith, wisdom and spiritual gifts and not actually move the Kingdom of God forward. The absence of love and grace nullifies the transformational power that faith can have. When I was growing up in church, I saw men that had faith, knowledge of the Bible, and had the ability to teach and lead. I saw these men who seemed to be mature spiritually, crumble when difficulties came up in the church family or their own personal lives. Looking back, I see that they were checking off a to-do list of spiritual things they need to do or acquire. This turned their faith into task-oriented rather than relationally based. The absence of grace, compassion and kindness stifled deeper connections and often missed spiritual need in others.
This is why without Christlike love involved in my faith, I will continually be spiritually immature. The basis of my salvation, my faith, is the love of God. Love is the foundation that my faith is built upon. Jonathan Swift, who wrote Gulliver’s travels, wrote: “We have just enough religion to make us hate but not enough to make us love one another.” Vs. 1- “But have not love, I am a noisy gong” ESV. The goal is to be motivated by love. I need to check my motivations; make sure I’m not checking things off my spiritual list but moving as Jesus would. How do I love better? Look at Jesus' example. Time and time again He put people first. People matter; checklists don’t. Spirituality without love is not Christlike; it's an empty, hollow shell of who I am supposed to be. Examine your motivations for your faith. Are they goal oriented or relational? Show love to those around you and see the difference in spiritual impact that will result. Love like Jesus.
Posted in Devotional