“And do everything with love” (1 Corinthians 16:14).
For the Christian, there is nothing to be done that is not done with love. Nothing. All we do, every interaction, every encounter, every conversation, each action is to be done in love, with love. What does that mean, and why does it matter?
1 Corinthians 13 describes what real love looks like. There is no better description of love! Specifically, in 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 we read, “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.” These aren’t just nice words to read at a wedding. This is God’s definition of love and how we are now called to love. So, when we read about our call to do everything with love, it means we are to seek to be patient in all of our communication. It means we display kindness with every person we come across, whether we know them well or whether they are a stranger, whether we agree with them or disagree with them. It means that rather than impatiently being rude to another when we are wronged, instead we overlook and keep no record of an offense. Love looks like treating others the way God so graciously treats us.
Why in the world would we do everything with love? How could we ever do everything with love? One reason and one way—Because Jesus gave everything on the cross in love for us. He loved us, even when we didn’t love Him. 1 John 4:10 puts it powerfully like this, “This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.”
May we ponder this truth much—Jesus loves me. Let’s treasure His incredible, undeserving, relentless love proven on the cross. Meditating on this love cheers the soul like nothing else can! Then, in response…”Do everything with love. “
Godspeed, friends!
-Scott