What’s Love Got To Do With It?

By Arron Symonds

I would like to talk about love with you today from 1 Corinthians 13.  Perhaps from a different angle than most of us have read this chapter in the past.  Typically this chapter is most popularly read at weddings – occasions where it is easy to read and most welcomed. During these events, we find it easy to focus on verses 4-7 – the definition of love.  However, the preceding verses deal with the reason for love, as well as the importance of its application in our ministries.

The reason and importance of love in our ministries as explained in I Corinthians 13:1-3 “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.”

The summary of verses 1-3 describes ministry that is void of love, and the outcome is not good.  If a ministry is void of love, the fullness of your ministry will be limited.  In fact not just limited, but as referenced in vs 1-3 the words “resounding gong, clanging cymbal, I am nothing, and I gain nothing” are the prescribed outcomes from a ministry that does not engage the power of love.  Has anyone ever felt powerless in your ministry?  Powerless over sin?  Powerless to love your spouse?  Powerless to evangelize?  Frustrated that the individual I am discipling just is not getting it?   The reason may be that you are not filled with love – a love for God and a love for others.  As such, the results are disappointing, draining, and ultimately futile. Love is the key ingredient that unlocks the ability for your ministry to be powerful and effective.  

To look at this a different way, if you were going to define or label the behavior of someone exemplifying verses 1-3 how would you define that person?  A legalist?  I believe verses 1-3 is the exact definition of legalism.  R.C. Sproul wrote, “The legalist isolates the law from the God who gave the law. He is not so much seeking to obey God or honor Christ as he is to obey rules that are devoid of any personal relationship.”

Legalism – I am becoming more convinced that legalism is one of the most blinding sins a believer can be caught in. Not only is legalism dangerous for the individual, as it is devoid of love for God and seeking His leading in life, but it is incredibly damaging to the body of Christ – it divides the body.  The sin is so sinister that it is nearly impossible to recognize in one’s own life because it cloaks itself as righteousness.  Furthermore, this sin is often performed in the name of God making it one of the most deceptive and sinister of all.  Satan’s goal is well accomplished when someone is caught in the sin of legalism.

So what does the opposite of legalism look like in our life? Where does a life yielded to the Spirit and full of His power come from?  The answer is given in the next 4 verses, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, 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.”

Love as defined in the previous verses is what will destroy legalism, bring unity, and allow your ministries to operate unhindered.  When Jesus was asked which is the greatest commandment in the Law, He said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” –Matthew 22:37-40.

How do I attain this kind of love?  By following the example of Christ.  Jesus love for the Father is what drove him to come to earth, live humbly as a servant, and ultimately give His life on the cross.  John 14:31 “but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me.”  

We cannot accomplish this on our own, as Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit so must we be.  In our own strength, we cannot generate unconditional love void of the Holy Spirit controlling our life.  I have been making it a practice to regularly pray that I would grow to love Jesus the way that God the father loves Him and in turn, that Jesus would show His affection toward me.  This is ground zero, and the well from which I draw upon so that I want to obey Him, fellowship with Him, and love others.

Our hearts should be longing after this desire to fellowship with Him. David shows us a great example of this when he says in Psalms 63:1, “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.”  In the New Testament Jesus took this desire to a new level and said that we must abide in Him.  John 15:5 says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”  It is clear that our ability to love God and love others begins with where we fix our attention.

The love that Jesus had for the Father was also directed toward those he served during his ministry on earth.  He loved the lost, His enemies, little children, the least in society, widows, sinners, beggars, lepers, outcasts, and His body the church.  If my life is ever growing in love for the Lord, the Holy Spirit will have an ever-growing presence in my life, in turn giving me the ability to love those I encounter with His supernatural love.  

Love is the true mark of maturity in a believer’s life.  It is a key ingredient that unlocks the Power of the Holy Spirit upon your life and in your ministry.  1 John 4:12 says, “No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” Jesus entire ministry modeled perfect love.  Thus if we are to have any impact for His kingdom here on earth we must also walk in love.  

Practically speaking where do I start?  Our world today is full of opportunities to ignore love and be swept into the failings of the flesh.  There is so much in the news and social media that is giving ample reason why we should not love – our country’s direction, the election, destruction of freedoms, etc.  These are deeply held, highly emotive subjects.  There are things within the church that break us apart, and bring disunity.  Individually, there are interpersonal relationships that take tremendous effort, and prove difficult to put on love.  Taking all of this in is very overwhelming – it would be impossible for you or I to operate in our own strength and show steadfast love through all of these situations.  

We must fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith – Hebrews 12:2.  Love for Him needs to be our priority each day.  As we grow in that, He will begin to work on those areas of your life that require supernatural love.  We serve a good Father who loves to give to his children – pray that you will have the ability to love others the way He does – He will answer that prayer, and your ministry will multiply.  

Aaron has a very successful insurance practice and a beautiful young family. He is a true servant of the Lord.