To me, 1 Corinthians 13 is one of the best chapters in the Bible. Also known as the "Love Chapter," 1 Corinthians 13 shows us what love really looks like and how we ought to display it.
The chapter's heading in my Bible is Love Is Indispensable. The definition of indispensable is "absolutely necessary." Meaning, love is absolutely necessary. It doesn't mean in certain circumstances. It doesn't mean it's important sometimes. It means it is necessary in everything we do.
The first few verses talk about how important love really is. "If I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to the hardship that i may boast, but do not have love, I am nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:2-3 We could feed the homeless every weekend, give to charities each month, and even sell everything we have, but if we don't love others, it's all worthless. But what is this love? If it's really as important as God says it is, then how should we act? Thankfully, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 lays it out for us.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor 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."
Easy enough, right? I didn't think so, but God never said it was going to be easy. We live in a world where accepting and loving everyone is vital right now, but are we really showing it? I see more fights on social media than I see daily encouragements. Love is not easily-angered and it's not proud, so that's not love. We accept the ones we agree with, but we instantly go off on the ones we can't meet eye-to-eye with. Love is patient and does not dishonor others, so that's not love. Tell me, are we really loving and accepting one another?
In order to exemplify God, we need to show love. 1 John 4:8 says, "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." If God is love, then He is also patient, kind, protecting, and trustworthy. He is not envious, nor is He self-seeking. Go ahead and re-read 1 Corinthians 13, but this time plug "God" in for "love." That is who God is, and He is the one the world needs to see.
My God is love, and love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:8)
"And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13
