“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)
According to Galatians 5:22-23, the fruit of the Holy Spirit contains nine qualities. However, they aren’t equal as verse 13 above indicates. Earlier verses in chapter 13 explain why: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dis-honor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)
Notice how the other eight qualities of the fruit are embodied within love: Love is patient, which is one of the eight qualities of the fruit. Love is kind, and kindness is also one of the eight qualities.
Through love, you become humble. No more envy or boasting or pride. Goodness becomes a way of life for you as you turn away from evil. Self-control and patience grow as you become less susceptible to anger and grudge-holding. Love builds the capacity to be perpetually joyful as you learn the great truths of God.
Huey Lewis & the News, a band in the 1980s, had a hit song called, “The Power Of Love.” The first lyric says this: “The power of love is a curious thing.” They were on to something, but they truly had no idea.
The song points to the fleeting aspects of romantic love. The Greeks named this kind of love ‘eros.’ Make one man cry and another man sing. Here today and gone tomorrow. Practically everyone has experienced the fleeting aspects of that kind of love.
The lyrics of “Greatest Of These” by Hillsong points to another kind of love. The Greeks named it ‘agape,’ the love of selflessness. The point of the song describes the futility of all our ‘good actions’ done outside the power of selfless love. Possibly, something positive can happen because of a good action done outside of selfless love.
But the mountain top of love can never be reached through good actions created by a variety of motivations, even if those motivations be positive. For example, a person can do a good deed in order to gain attention.
The mountain top can only be crested through selfless love. These lyrics from “Greatest Of These” describe the path: “Cause there’s no fear in love, but there is a cross.”
If God chose to explain 1 Corinthians 13:13 to us, He would only have to point to the cross. “Go there,” He might say, “and you will find the answer to discovering the greatest love possible. Go there and you will learn how to live out the greatest love possible.”
But you see the bonus, right? With selfless love comes joy and peace. Patience and kindness prosper. Goodness—pure goodness—becomes a way of life as does faithfulness—unwilting faithfulness. You get to live in the peace and power of humility. Self-control brings calmness regardless the situation.
It’s simply because you chose to live in the selfless love of the cross.
The “easy yoke and light burdens” promised by Jesus become literal realities in your life. One of the greatest ironies of a Believer’s life is that as he becomes more and more dedicated to living life in the selfless love of the cross, the negative issues of his life become less burdensome. The reverse path is just as true: the further a Believer walks away from the selfless love of the cross, the negative issues of his life become more burdensome.
Choose selfless love. Walk fearlessly. Reap abundantly, without measure. Dwell in rich fullness.