LOVE – THE GREATEST

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity – 1 Corinthians 13: 13

To show the importance of Christian LOVE, Paul places it side-by-side with two other vital virtues: FAITH and HOPE. The centrality of love would have been obvious had Paul stopped at that point, but instead he elevated love to an even higher level. He concludes the Love chapter in 13:13 with these words: “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.” These three attributes abide: faith, hope and love. While faith, hope, and love stand above all spiritual gifts – prophecy, tongues, and knowledge – the greatest of these is love! Love – for God and for each other – is the highest virtue to pursue.

Why would the greatest of the three be considered to be LOVE? Perhaps it’s because love covers not only what we experience in our relations to others and TO God, but what we experience FROM God Himself. In addition, it is clear that love abides not only in time, but for all of eternity. In the eternal future, we’ll see the Lord as He is, and be like Him (1 Jh. 3:1-3). Why would we need to exercise “faith” or “hope” in One whose Presence pervades the heavens or in an eternity that is without sorrow, pain or tears? We cannot hope for better days than what eternity in Christ already offers! Yet, we will experience God’s incredible love, a deep love for Him, and a perfect love among one another.

Love is the greatest gift because LOVE gave LIFE: Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren (1 Jh.3:16). That sounds like another version of John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Love is the greatest of all things to be desired. Paul describes it as “the most excellent way” to live as a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor.12:31). Even the pursuit and exercise of spiritual gifts must be birthed and bathed in love for others. Anything else is less that “excellent.”

Cultivating a loving and vibrant relationship with God is the precursor to growing in our love for others. Next is to love those nearest to us: our spouses, children, brethren, neighbours and co-workers. God has called us to love people. Jesus said that all people will know we are His disciples by the love that we have for one another (Jh.13:34-35). Remember the greatest commandment is that we would love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love our neighbour like ourselves.