The Balance of Love

 

    

 

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.  Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;  Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;  does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;   bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

NKJV

    

 

This  portion of the passage is  getting down to the nitty-gritty.  Love is strong and able to withstand a load. It makes me think of one of those paper towel commercials where they wet the towel and then put a piece of fruit on it, to show it is strong enough to withstand damage and a load and not break.   That is the case with true love.  When we love  someone we can bear up a whole lot, without breaking.  

 

True love also believes the best in the other person and for the other person.  Love is not suspicious or paranoid.  It is  not stingy  or selfish.  When we love someone, we believe that they have the best intentions and a good heart.  In addition, we can believe in prayer for their needs to be met.  The believing component is based in God's love- but that does not mean we are foolish and cannot see what is  obvious.  Love does not negate wisdom and discernment, it just filters out pettiness and paranoia!

 

Love also has hope contained within it.  We can hope for the best for someone we have the God-kind of love for. We are able to stretch our faith to cover their need.  We have an eager expectation of good for someone we love, rather than dashing their hopes and nay-saying over their lives.  Ultimately, when we walk in true love, we are able to share in God's feelings toward that person, selflessly wanting what is best for them.  There is no competition in that.  Instead, we  are their number-one fan and advocate.

 

Love endures all things.  Even when we believe the best, and they act the worst, love enables us to stay faithfully by their side.  Love is not wimpy, weak, or short lived.  True love is strong, stout and bold.  When they hurt our feelings, we choose to let it go.  When their weaknesses are exposed, we choose not to see.   When forgiveness is needed, we extend it freely.  When they are following our advice, or ignoring all of it,  love enables us to steadfastly support them.

Love is a beautiful, strong, and divine act.  The different facets outlined in these passages are beautiful and poetic.   They are ideals that we should strive for. To keep this message in balance, though, we have to apply it alongside the totality of the Word of God.  So we can be loving and yet discerning.  We can be loving and still confront sin.  We can walk in love and protect ourselves and the weaker ones involved in a situation.  Love does  not mean being a door mat or presenting ourselves to be used.  Jesus walked in absolute love and absolute wisdom.  He knew when to trust himself to someone and when not to.   Ask the Lord to reveal what love, in practice, would look like in your life and current situations.

Dear God, help me to walk in love and in wisdom.  Jesus, show me how you lived out love on this earth.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.