What Love Looks for Most
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”
1 Corinthians 13:4–7
The first winter the Pilgrims spent in Massachusetts was a time of great hardship and suffering. Though the weather was not especially harsh, they were not prepared for winter. The lack of adequate food and shelter, and the spread of disease from cramped living conditions took a dreadful toll. By the time spring arrived, 45 of the 102 who had made the journey from England seeking religious freedom were dead. But the losses were not equally distributed. While only three of the thirteen children perished, thirteen of the eighteen married women died. They were making sure their children ate rather than caring for themselves—because of their love.
Love is not selfish. It does not focus on what it can get, but what it can give. Much of what the world refers to as love in our day is radically different from the Bible standard. God’s love, the love which we are to have in our lives as a fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit, looks out for the welfare and benefit of others rather than self. Genuine love in any relationship does not look for what it can get, but what it can give. If we say we love someone but are not willing to sacrifice and put their interests first, it is at best a very shallow imitation of love. Love gives and gives and gives for the sake of the one who is loved. Jesus said, “As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:15).
1 Corinthians 13:4–7
The first winter the Pilgrims spent in Massachusetts was a time of great hardship and suffering. Though the weather was not especially harsh, they were not prepared for winter. The lack of adequate food and shelter, and the spread of disease from cramped living conditions took a dreadful toll. By the time spring arrived, 45 of the 102 who had made the journey from England seeking religious freedom were dead. But the losses were not equally distributed. While only three of the thirteen children perished, thirteen of the eighteen married women died. They were making sure their children ate rather than caring for themselves—because of their love.
Love is not selfish. It does not focus on what it can get, but what it can give. Much of what the world refers to as love in our day is radically different from the Bible standard. God’s love, the love which we are to have in our lives as a fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit, looks out for the welfare and benefit of others rather than self. Genuine love in any relationship does not look for what it can get, but what it can give. If we say we love someone but are not willing to sacrifice and put their interests first, it is at best a very shallow imitation of love. Love gives and gives and gives for the sake of the one who is loved. Jesus said, “As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:15).
Today’s Growth Principle:
To love as God loves, we must care more about the needs of others than our own
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