1 Corinthians 13:13, “And now these three remain: faith, hope, love. But the greatest of these is love.”
Paul defines real love in 1 Corinthians 13. He teaches that love is patient and kind. In comparison, it is not jealous, boastful, proud, rude, and does not demand its own way. It is not being irritable and does not keep a running list of when being wronged. Never rejoices in injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance (1 Cor. 13:4-7), because God is still on the throne, and is able to deal with any situation (Heb. 4:13). Ultimately, God is who we are accountable to above anyone else.
No matter if one is exceptionally gifted in many areas and has even won various awards for their outstanding accomplishments, this passage teaches that every Christian needs to show a considerable amount of love to others because of their love for God. As Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 8:1b-3, “But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. But the person who loves God is the one who God recognizes.” NLT.
“If love for God is not the practical driving force of my life, love of self will be.” Paul David Tripp. It goes back to the greatest commandment, “And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.” Deut. 6:5. It requires resting in God’s control, not in one’s own control, and having compassion to act with kindness and empathy to others, as Leviticus 19:18 and Mark 12:31, which Jesus reiterated and taught, “Love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.”
So, the question then becomes, is my love for God the practical driving force of my life, or is it my love for self? Paul taught the most excellent way, as taught in 1 Corinthians 13, which is summed up in the last verse, “These things will last forever – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love.” Faith reminds me that my sins are forgiven because of what Jesus did for me on the cross, and He sits on the throne with God. Hope looks to the future when Jesus returns to take us home to Heaven, so there’s nothing for me to worry about in the future. Love tells me I am in the presence of Jesus, my great Shepherd (Ps. 23).
For “the man who loves God is known by God.” 1 Cor. 8:3 NIV. God, my prayer is, may your thoughts be my thoughts today, as I show grace unselfishly to others as You have shown and given grace to me. May I model 1 John 4:7-8, which states, “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
“Only the person who has put his past behind him through the power of the Cross, only the person who looks forward to the future through the promise of heaven can truly love in the present.” Jon Courson’s Application Commentary, New Testament. That is the most excellent way.
Listen to Phil Wickham – Song Of The Saints (Official Lyric Video).