LOVE
What is love and how would you define “love”? Webster describes love in many ways. Webster states that love is a
1. strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties such as maternal love for a child
2. affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests
3. an assurance of affection
Many of us could describe love in a way that may be different from Webster’s definition. Maybe for you love is not a definition, but rather an action. Well, let’s take a look at how the bible defines love. I Corinthians chapter 13 tells us that: If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
In closing, we see that just because a person is intelligent and knowledgeable does not make them complete without love. I can even do charitable work without love and still be nothing. In other words, it is not enough to “do things” or “know things”. Love is about our motivation at the end of the day. Love is the “why” behind what we do.
