Love is the first element mentioned in the Fruit of the Spirit (Click here for FOTS post). Why is that? Why did Paul the Apostle mention it first? My answer: it is. Paul states that in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, we have nothing and are nothing without love. In the King James version of the Holy Bible which I grew up with, the word used is “charity.” But no matter which word you use, one thing remains the same: love makes all things worthwhile.
For example, cleaning is not my most favorite job to do around the house. Neither is washing, drying, and folding the clothes. Nor cooking dinner every night. But I do them. I love my family. Pure and simple. I want them to live in a house that is “presentable” as my mom would say. Clean clothes is a must have in my book. Bellies filled with good-tasting, healthy food is always a blessing (okay that might be stretching it a bit if you’ve ever tasted my cooking but I’m making a point here).
Love is Selfless
Love, as Paul describes it, is from the Greek word agape which is described as “selfless love.” It is an attitude that considers other people more than ourselves and not expecting anything in return. This is exactly what God does with us. He loves us regardless of whether we love Him back. He wants what is best for us. Sometimes we don’t even want that for ourselves. Being charitable to others in this very same manner is a commandment we often forget to do .
Your child is having her third meltdown of the day. Your husband is stuck in traffic AGAIN and won’t be home in time for dinner. Life happens and there are situations that constantly test the boundaries of our devotion. But we choose to do the right thing. It is difficult but we choose to do it anyway. It is not easy nor natural and involves getting ourselves and our egos out of the picture and doing what is right.
A Call for Action
Verbs are action words. They tell you what a person or a thing is doing in a sentence. Love is a verb, an action. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 is a perfect example of what love does: patient, kind, happy with the truth, puts up with all things, trusts in all things, hopes in all things, endures all things, and never fails. The verses also state what love doesn’t do: it’s not jealous, doesn’t brag, isn’t proud, isn’t rude, isn’t self-seeking, isn’t angry, isn’t resentful, nor is it happy with injustice.
Knowing what love isn’t may be even more important than knowing what it is. Jealousy, pride, bragging, anger, and all the rest can destroy relationships, friendships, and marriages. Love builds things up and makes them better. It does not destroy.
“I’m sorry” are two of the hardest words to say and really mean it. I know in the movie, Love Story, Ali McGraw tells Ryan O’Neal that “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” But saying “I’m sorry” is an important element when you love someone. Stating that simple phrase when you have hurt someone and possibly have damaged a relationship will go a long way in repairing it.
Is anything else more important as an element for the Fruit of the Spirit? Can anything really grow without it? Does anything else make the world go around? What do you think? Let me know so we can discuss it further.
