by Adam Hofer 11/24
What does love look like in action? This is a loaded question in today’s age because we all have different opinions of what “love” is. Is love an action or a feeling? Is love acceptance and tolerance? Does love mean we turn a blind eye to the sin of others, or is there space for accountability in love? Is living a life of love a life of self-denial? Is love selfish? We all have opinions when pondering these questions. However, our opinions lack foundation if they are not rooted in the Word of God.
One of the most well-known passages about love is 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. The Apostle Paul addressed love because like us, the Corinthian church lacked consistency on what love looked like in practice. Paul’s concern for the Corinthian church began several years prior when he visited Corinth for his first time seventeen years after the death and resurrection of Christ. The city started humbly as a Roman settlement of freed slaves. Yet, over time, the city grew quickly and became one of the largest political and trading centers of the Roman empire. Wealth and prosperity grew quickly, which attracted many people of different faiths, cultures, and worldviews. The city formed the reputation of being one of the most corrupt and immoral citiesof the Roman Empire. Due to this reputation, a new word was made “korinthiazomai” which meant “to live immorally like a Corinthian.”
Paul had reason to believe the church in Corinth would mature. Yet, that was not the case. Instead of maturing in the faith, divisions broke out between Christians who believed compromising their Christian beliefs was essential to maintain peace with the overall culture and Christians who believed isolation from the overall culture was essential to preserve the holiness of the church. The tension between these groups of people grew out of control, which endangered the future of the Corinthian church.
Out of his concern for the Corinthian church, Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 13. Verse 4 begins by addressing what love is: patient and kind. Some would argue that patience and kindness are the pillars of love, which I agree with. Yet, the way I think of love is this: Love is inhaling patience and exhaling kindness. When we think of patience, we often think of waiting for something. However, in this passage, the Greek word for “patient” is makrothumeo, which can be quite literally translated as “long-tempered.” In other words, one who is patient is slow to anger. Patience is when you are supposed to get mad, but choose to be understanding instead. Love inhales offenses without exhaling offenses. Instead, love exhales kindness. As patience inhales offenses, kindness exhales gentleness, generosity, and acts of service. Kindness not only desires for people to thrive but actively works for the betterment of others, even one’s enemies. People who are kind are good to people and for people. Their kindness is not based on what others have done for them, what their spouse have done for them, what their children have done for them, what their employer has done for them, but rather is based on who they are in Christ. Love does not simply feel patient or kind, it intentionally practices patience and kindness. even when it is hard and inconvenient.
After addressing what love is, Paul then goes through the eight do-nots of love. Love does not envy but instead exhales kindness by being content. Love does not boast but instead exhales kindness by using words to lift others up. Love is not proud (Gk. phusioo meaning “to be puffed up”) but instead exhales kindness by being humble. Love does not dishonor others but instead exhales kindness by being thoughtful and courteous. Love is not self-seeking but instead exhales kindness by being others-focused. Love is not irritable but instead exhales kindness by being self-controlled. Love keeps no records of wrongs but instead exhales kindness by forgiving others of their wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but instead exhales kindness by rejoicing in the truth, a truth that is not found on social media or on TV but is found in the innate Word of God.
So what does love look like in action? Love is inhaling patience and exhaling kindness. Love is an intentional action that we are all called to do, even when it is hard, even when it is inconvenient, even when we don’t feel particularly loving towards someone. We are called to love regardless. And no one embodied this love better than our Lord, Jesus Christ, who came as a baby to this unloving, sinful world.
Have a Merry Christmas!
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