The Greatest is Love

“So faith, hope, and love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

As we wrap up this series on 1 Corinthians 13, we see one final truth: Love is the greatest, because it is eternal. Faith and hope are only needed to sustain us during our time on earth, but love will last forever in heaven. This last line sums up everything we’ve been talking about over the past several weeks. If our love is to imitate the eternal love of God, it has to be the compass which guides the direction of our journey, the salve that heals our wounds, the law which challenges our sinfulness instead of tolerating it, and the cord that binds us together, especially with our spouse.

True love calls us to care for each other out of a heart that wants the very best for our spouse. It calls for us to be “slow to anger, rich in kindness” as we walk together in becoming better people, better parents, and better lovers. It calls for us to decrease in our worldly view of each other and to increase in our Christ-centered view of each other.

Striving for power, prestige, and possessions can cause us to lose sight of the souls entrusted to us in our spouse and children. “What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” (Mark 8:36). The only thing we will carry with us into eternity is the love, which our acts of kindness, love, and compassion helped us to grow, during our time on earth. These acts make us holier people, shape and heal the hearts of those who receive them, and increase our ability to face the world unhindered by the brokenness of sin around us. Love is truly the greatest! 

ACTION STEP: This week, reassess the amount of time you spend on things that will bring power, prestige, or more possessions. Ask God to change any desires towards these things, into a desire to spend time building connections with, compassion for, and charity towards those we love.