Talking Points with Pastor Woodford - Greatest of These is Love

Paul’s letter to the Corinthians explains the deep truths of love for Christians. It ends with a familiar verse: Faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Cor. 13:13). Have you ever wondered why he says love is the greatest?

1 Corinthians 13 is a profound chapter dedicated entirely to explaining the way of love. In it, Paul depicts, defines, and describes love. Specifically, according to God’s perspective, both what it is and what it is not. This is especially important in a culture that talks so much about love, but often in ways God does not mean or intend. Christians, therefore, must know how God designs it, defines it, and refines it through His Holy Word. Love is love only as long as it abides by God’s creation of it and command for it.

Many Christians hear portions of 1 Corinthians 13 read at weddings where it is wittingly or unwittingly framed in ways that make it only about a husband and wife. But that misses what Paul is telling the whole Christian church. The Corinthians had disordered a great many things about the faith, which is why Paul had to write such a long first letter, as well as a long second letter, to help their congregations put things back in their proper order.

When it came to love, the Corinthians needed to be rebuked for their lack of it. You and I are no different. You can probably think of someone right now who you need to love, or who you have failed to love as you should. Paul’s description of love in this chapter is rather clear. It’s also a reminder for us to repent for any of our unlovingness: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.” In other words, love always moves us to action for the good of another. However, our sinful nature struggles to love—be that to a friend, parent, sister, or brother.

True love is always unselfish. That’s easy to say, but hard to attain! Selfishness lies at the root of a thousand evils and sins in the world as well as in the church: between rich and poor, boss and worker, husband and wife, neighbor and neighbor, church member and church member. Selfishness plagues us all our life. Even in the church. The devil loves it. As Martin Luther said, where the Lord builds His church, there the devil builds a chapel. He is waiting to prey upon your weakness, your brokenness, and your selfishness. That’s why Paul explains even if a person claims great feats of faith, or great theological knowledge, yet does not show love, they are nothing: “If I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”

Likewise, he even makes clear that pursuing goodness and honor apart from love, even if it leads to martyrdom, gains you nothing: “If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” In other words, feigned noble works that do not flow from love, but only desire the praises of love, are indeed false and empty.

True love, however, always has another person in view. Love always moves us to action for the good of another. This means the greatest gifts and the grandest deeds together with all their greatness and all their grandness are nothing, make us nothing, and bring us nothing if love is absent. That’s why Paul says: “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” But what makes love so great? Jesus shows us.

Loving those who are annoying is hard. Loving the unlovable is hard. But not for Jesus. “The greatest of these is love,” says Paul. Jesus came to show us just how great.

Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase, “Misery loves company.” It’s the idea that, “If it has to be this way for me then it should be that way for you, too.” But if you look past the anger and hurt of life, you know this is not true. If we’re honest, we all know misery loves mercy. When we’re miserable and hurt, the unloving side of us thinks others should feel that way, too. But underneath the hurt and underneath the anger is the desperate desire for mercy—the longing for someone to love us, to hold us, and to make everything better.

I have good news for you. That someone is Jesus. He comes directly to you in His Word. Even more, through bread and wine with His very body and blood, He goes into your mouth and into your life. He is notorious for making things better—for cleansing sinners, healing heartaches, and even raising the dead. Yes, there is no greater comfort than the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He journeyed this earth for you. He carried His cross for you. He poured out His blood for you. Jesus the mercy maker, took your place as a law breaker, to show you His love and become your sin taker. Jesus laid down his life for you, so He’s not about to abandon you when you are down and out. He won’t leave you when others give up on you, or when you think you can’t go on. He went through death and suffered hell to make sure you know how much He loves you.

“The greatest of these is love.” Why is it the greatest? Because it enlivens your soul. Because it breathes life into your spirit. Because love does not fail. “Faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Why is it the greatest? Because love alone makes us like God. Faith receives. Hope receives. They both let us receive the good gifts of God. But love gives. That is what Jesus does to you. He gives you His love. On the good days and the bad, when you are happy or when you’re sad, He loves you.

Because He does, something wonderful happens to you and in you. Those who are loved, love others. It is a beautiful thing. Loved people, love people. That’s you. Jesus loves you. You love Him. And you love others. The greatest of these is love.

In Christ,