God's definition of what matters is pretty straightforward. He measures our lives by how we love. In our culture, even if a pastor doesn't actually love people, he can still be considered successful as long as he is a gifted speaker, makes his congregation laugh, or prays for "all those poor, suffering people in the world" every Sunday. But Paul writes that even if "I have all faith, as to remove a mountain, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing"(1 Cor.13:2-3 ESV). Wow. Those are strong and unmistakable words. According to God, we are here to love. Not much else really matters. So God assesses our lives based on how we love. But the word love is so overused and worn out. What does God mean by love? He tells us,
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends...faith, hope, and love abide, the three; but the greatest of these is love.
-1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 13 ESV
But even those words have grown tired and overly familiar, haven't they? I was challenged to do a little exercise with these verses, one that was profoundly convicting. Take the phrase Love is patient and substitute your name for the word love.
-Francis Chan
Wow! How heart wrenching was that? Any Christian that reads this and is not challenged even the slightest bit might re-think what they are really, truly living for. Our God is not interested in what we are capable of offering to him half the time. He is interested in our EVERYTHING. Following Christ isn't something that can be done halfheartedly or on the side. It must be central to everything we do and everything we are. I hope this speaks to you as much as is did to me. LOVE! its all about LOVE! and if we, as Christians, don't grasp that soon....then we are NOTHING. Do you want to be nothing in God's eyes? Or do you want to do as He commands and LOVE others and put others in front of yourselves? It is a very dangerous decision, one that should not be taken halfheartedly. I encourage you to not be lukewarm and do not be evil. (Malachi 1:8) Goodnight :)
