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The commercial and romantic world has designated 14 February every year as “Valentine’s Day” – a Day of Love. However, as Christians we can celebrate love everyday and at all times as we know that God loves us and we love God always! This love extends through time and into eternity. Praise the Lord!
There is no doubt that 1 Corinthians 13 is considered by many as a beautiful poetic passage on “love”. It is a favourite passage read at Christian wedding ceremonies. On 6 September 1997 it was broadcast all over the world when the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, read it at the worldwide televised funeral service of Princess Diana. God allowed this wonderful 1 Corinthians 13 passage to be used to show the world what God’s love is all about. Only in Jesus Christ can this standard of love be achieved.
However, when we read 1 Corinthians 13 in the context of Paul’s letter, we note that wedding or funeral was not Paul’s primary concern when he penned those beautiful poetic words to the Church at Corinth about love. He was concerned about the Corinthian’s worldly actions, particularly in the areas of “tongue speaking” and “wrong Christian behaviour”. He gave the needed correction by showing them “the most excellent way” – LOVE. The clear teaching of the whole Bible is that “love” is the command of God. The correct Christian behaviour is to live by obeying this command. Love is not pitted against “Gifts from God” but is “the most excellent way” in which these gifts are to function. Love is in action when Christians work together as parts of the Body of Christ using gifts from God that builds up the local church.
The Corinthian believers were taken up by “tongues, wisdom, knowledge and boastings” but the basic Christian behaviour expressing love was sadly missing. They forgot that to come under the Holy Spirit’s control they must behave as “those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy” (1 Cor. 1:2) and to live and walk in Christian love. Even at the “Lord’s Supper Service” they behaved very badly for there were divisions among them and some remained hungry while others even got drunk (1 Cor. 11:17-22). What a terrible Christian testimony it was before a critical watching pagan society, which they had previously been a part of. Paul had to bring them back to the basic commandments of “Love God” and “Love neighbour as yourself”. Let us always be reminded that in all matters and at all times – LOVE IS THE ANSWER!