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Single Minded
by Michelle Brinson
1 Corinthians 13:3-8a NIV
How many times have you been to a wedding and heard this passage of scripture read? I'd have to say dozens and dozens. Often times, First Corinthians 13 is sometimes referred to the "love chapter" of the Bible. I fear we've heard this passage so much that we really don't "hear" it. Its true meaning now lost to us.
Unfortunately our culture has caused us to confuse love and romance. Movies, songs, TV programs – they all glorify love. But so much of it is not real – only fantasy and we become confused as to what real love is.
1 John 4:8 (HCSB)
The Bible gives us the definition of love – God is love. Sounds simple? Well, it's not, really. The day you and I trusted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, the Holy Spirit came to indwell in us, and therefore we have the love of God inside of us. As we surrender to Him (which I must do daily), He allows His divine love, not human love, to flow through us. So essentially what that means is as a Christian we have the capacity to love that an unbeliever does not have.
This kind of love supercedes the kind of love we as human beings can give in our own strength. It is the kind of love Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 13. In reading the description you might think, "Gee, there's no way I can love like that." Well no one can – at least not in our own strength. It would be impossible apart from almighty God, who is the source of love. The Bible terms this love as "agape."
There's a big difference between the kind of love Paul is describing and what many of us today would consider love. Romantic love is fleeting. It's an emotion. It depends on circumstances. Like the ocean it ebbs and it flows. Agape love is committed to someone else's best interests, it is unselfish, willing to sacrifice and ready to serve.
Agape love is not primarily an emotion, although it can be felt. It is an action. It is something you do. But doing religious good deeds is not enough. If you try to "buy" your way into agape love by "doing" lots of things – it won't work. Religious deeds without love will result in spiritual emptiness.
Notice the first two traits Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 13 are positive characteristics we should imitate- love is patient, love is kind. Followed by negative characteristics to avoid: doesn't envy or boast (in other words - draw attention to yourself; not proud or rude; not self-seeking; not easily angered, no record kept of wrongs; and doesn't delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. He finishes with positive conclusions of this kind of love: always trusts, hopes, perseveres.
This is a love of another kind. One we so desperately need in our world today. Jesus is by far the best example of love that has ever been or ever will be. He told his disciples He loved them, and would continue to love them to the bitter end. And He did. Even to the point of dying on a cross.
While it's highly unlikely in today's society you would be faced with death on a cross, but I am curious, as his disciple, how do you love? Perhaps the next time you hear 1 Corinthians 13 read at a wedding, you'll think twice about what it means – and this time, you'll know the kind of love God calls us to and seek to model it in your own life.
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Michelle sees her marriage as a ministry and desires for it and herself to be used by God. She and her husband and son are active members of their church. She is also passionate about spreading the good news locally as well as internationally via mission trips to East Africa and wherever else the Lord leads.
Michelle is a talented writer and speaker who prays God will use her in sharing His hope and truths to those who are hurting and in need of love.
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