Love is...Part 1

"Love means never having to say you're sorry."  Quote from the 1970 movie Love Story.

HOGWASH!  

Then there is the song, Lookin' for Love, by Johnny Lee, 1980. This may be more accurate, the first line in the chorus goes something like this: "lookin' for love in all the wrong places..."

And here we are in 2022, and the world is still looking for love and acceptance in the wrong places, and in the wrong people.

My friend and I have been reading 1 Corinthians 13.  It's known as 'The Love Chapter' in the Bible, because it clearly defines what love is, and what love is not.  This chapter is a very familiar chapter to me as I have read it many times, but this time I decided to look up each individual definition to the words in each verse, and I have come away with a better understanding about love.  I'm not a theologian, but I want to share what spoke to my heart.

1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 

    Sounding-means pompous.

    Brass-one of the definitions used here is 'empty cartridge shells.'

    Tinkling-high ringing, or clinking sounds.

So, even if I was an elegant speaker, and knew what I was talking about, if I don't have love, it's not worth hearing.  My words would sound pompous, and annoying.  My words would be empty, meaningless, and not useful.  I would be shooting blanks.

1 Corinthians 13:2 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, and have not charity, I am nothing.

    Prophecy-inspired utterance, declaration of divine will and purpose, a prediction of things to come.

    Mysteries-something not understood, enigma.

    Knowledge- the fact of knowing.

The gifts of prophecy and mysteries and knowledge would be extremely COOL to have, but they are all worthless when love is missing!  

Love is the key factor in every aspect of our lives.  Without it we have nothing, and we are nothing.

The world sees power money and brains as success, and yet they are harmful in many ways.  Why?  Because there is no love.  

My friend, if you are looking for True Love, turn to Christ.  He is the Author of Love.  He IS love personified.

    

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.

Jesus speaking, John 3:16

Lord, help my words and works bring you honor and glory, because they are spoken in and done with love!

    But that's just me!