“So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13
With Valentine’s Day approaching, many people’s thoughts have been turning towards love. This year, we will celebrate our 20th anniversary. It has been 20 amazing years. We have experienced many days of joy and many days of struggles. For 20 years, it has been the practice of love that has helped us to grow and live a full life together.
I have had the privilege of officiating several weddings. In many of these weddings, the scripture that has been read is 1 Corinthians 13. This chapter is commonly known as “The Love Chapter.” The Apostle Paul did not intend for this to be read in weddings. It was originally part of a letter written to the young church in Corinth. Paul was trying to help the church to see that their religious practices were important, but love was the foundational motivation for the Christian life.
“The Love Chapter” actually begins with the last verse of chapter 12. Paul writes, “And I will show you a still more excellent way.” It would seem that the Corinth church was fixated on spiritual gifts. They wanted the spiritual power that comes from a relationship with the Holy Spirit, but they failed to see that the greatest power is love. In Chapter 13, the Apostle Paul describes the greatness of love. Love is so much! “Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends”
It has been over 2,000 years since Paul wrote his letters to the church in Corinth. Since then “The Love Chapter” has been read in several settings, from Sunday morning worship to Saturday weddings. This chapter beautifully expresses how we wish to be treated and how, as a people of faith, we should treat one another.
When a couple stands at the altar, preparing to start their life together, it is love that is the foundation on which they will build their future. They will experience many joys and many trials. The only thing that will overcome the inconsistencies of life, is love. The early church in Corinth looked for religious power that would help them have the life they desired. Paul helped them to understand that the greatest power had always been available to them.
This Valentine’s Day, let us remember that God is love. God has given the gift of love to each of us. God has given us grace so that we too may learn how to live the “more excellent way.”
– Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
