Love Is Effort

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. [1 Corinthians 13.7]

Love. Now, there's a topic of variety!

Many tend to think of love according to their own understanding of it rather that seeing it for what God, in Jesus Christ demonstrated it to be.

I am not going to "explore" all the different Greek words for love because I believe the context of 1 Corinthians 13 gives us all the definition of love we need without us having to do word studies. In fact, verse 7 above describes the love we should all strive for.

Love never gives up.

Love never loses faith.

Love is always helpful.

Love endures through every circumstance.

Love kind of sounds like work! Love takes effort - no - love IS effort.

If the greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind, doesn't that sound a bit like love is an all-or-nothing venture? So, wouldn't it makes sense then that we should have that all-or-nothing attitude toward loving others?

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ [Matthew 22.37-39]

The greatest demonstration of love known to mankind was the suffering of Jesus Christ on the Cross for sins that were not His. That was never giving up, never losing faith, always hoping, and enduring through every circumstance. People can say what they want about love, but until love is willing to die for the good of another (others), it might be called love, but it isn't really love. Let's just get that straight in our heads! Just because we interpret many different Greek words into "love" does not mean we have interpreted those words correctly! Think about it... it was man who interpreted all those different Greek words  as "love" - not God!

In keeping with the attitude of this writing, let me just say that God has never been confused about love. His love began (as far as man is concerned) with effort. That effort was extended to others from the very beginning.

Father, help me to be more aware of my thoughts about love. Help me to be more intent on loving through my efforts.