PROMPTINGS: The Best Love Possible

Relationships are hard.

Anyone who has lived knows the truth of that. From birth we’ve been taught to simply want what we want. Having done hundreds of hours of counseling with couples, I’m curious how much of this is a result of our habit of viewing people solely in terms of how they can meet our needs.

Isn’t this what we do, really without thinking about it, in commerce and business? The customer is seen not so much as a person as he or she is as a part of a purchasing “demographic.” At least in American culture, the “commoditization” of relationships (making a commodity out of relationships) has had a profound impact on how we view each other, interact with each other, and ultimately form bonds of relationship and intimacy with one another.

When Paul, the apostle, wrote 1 Corinthians 13, I suspect he didn’t write it as if to say, “treat your business relationships one way and your personal relationships another way.” I wonder if Paul wouldn’t have been amused at how we reserve what we think is our “real love” for those in our immediate “tribe.”

But here’s something to ponder. In fact, I want you to step outside the box for just a moment and imagine – what if, Paul’s encouragement on love in 1 Corinthians 13 were to apply to ALL of our relationships.

Now you’re asking (as you reach for your Bible), what exactly DOES Paul say in 1 Corinthians 13?!?

1Co 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, 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.

Suppose that we were simply to start with our most personal relationships – a husband, a wife, a mother, father, brother, sister, son or daughter – and apply this passage of scripture. What would change in your approach to that relationship? This passage of scripture is included in every wedding I perform and I love to have the couple read it together as they prepare for marriage. You should see the looks couples give each other as they have to say “love keeps no record of wrongs!” And yet, if couples were to wake up every day and read this passage together and re-covenant their lives to each other every day – what an amazing impact would that have!

The love that Jesus showed was a love just like this. Love’s object was never what Jesus might be able to gain from the other person or how the other person might somehow fit his agenda. Love’s object was simply – the other person – the man, the woman, the child before him. It didn’t matter who they were or where they came from or what they had done. He loved them not even for any “because” – he just loved them!

Love heals, love enjoys, love expresses, love is faithful and endures to the end. True love has nothing to do with receiving one’s just desserts. True love just loves knowing deep inside that love is just simply a God-breathed thing. And being God-breathed means that true love gives life – both now and in eternity.