Many people have wondered what the greatest thing in the world was. I remember having an argument about which was the greatest motivator- love or fear. We always want to know the highest, best, greatest, most supreme. So, why would life be any different?
I've spent some time thinking about this question. What is the point of life? What is the greatest thing to strive for? It has brought me to prayerful tears as I pondered this question. From a worldly point, life seems to be nothing but trouble after trial after heartache. You wake up just to put your head down and work through the pain. Why? What is life's goal? The end game? The Summum Bonum?
As I pondered this question I thought about all the books out there written on various topics. But, it seems that most of them have one theme somewhere in their pages- love. To find that feeling. That meaning. That desire that drives you forward even when everything around you is falling apart.
I Corinthians 13:13- And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
The Bible tells us that the greatest of three driving forces is charity. That made me stop and wonder. Charity is the benevolent goodwill toward or the love of humanity. Charity in essence is love. It makes sense, really. When people have nothing to love and don't feel that anyone loves them they kill themselves. Love is something everyone searches for. Everyone desires.
And then I began to really look at the whole chapter of I Corinthians 13. Paul tells us some things about charity, or love, in this chapter. And, I think if we could only grasp this alone we would live our lives much differently than ever before!
First he contrasts it with different things. Eloquence- Though I speak with the tongue of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal (I Corinthians 13:1). Having the ability to love is better than having the power to rouse the souls and wills of men. That is a powerful statement! There are politicians that would love that power, and yet it is just noise compared to the power of charity.
Then he contrasts it to prophecy- And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge: (I Corinthians 13:2a). We pay so much for education these days. The number of schools and colleges in our country are immense! And yet, without charity (love), it's worth nothing. All those dollars are wasted!
What good is knowing the means but never getting to the end? Faith is a means to an end. Faith is how we find God and learn of Jesus Christ. But it's love that connects our soul to God. You have to have faith to find love. Obviously, love is greater than faith! and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. (I Corinthians 13:2b)
Paul also contrasts love with sacrifice and martyrdom- And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. (I Corinthians 13:3). There are people banking on how much they give to get them to heaven. There are those who do good deeds in an effort to gain God's favor. But, without the love of Christ it isn't going to profit them at all!
As if those contrasts weren't enough to get my head spinning! What is it then? What is this Charity? This love? What defines this Summum Bonum? Paul doesn't leave us hanging.
He mentions nine things: Patience, kindness, generosity, humility, courtesy, unselfishness, good temper, innocence, and sincerity.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. -I Corinthians 13:4-7
Charity goes beyond love in this respect. It's patient, passive, not in a hurry. It's willing to wait!
Charity is kind. It's active, doing the best for others without thought of reward. It's placing the happiness of others before our own desires.
Charity is generous. It doesn't envy. It won't harbor illwill to those who can do something better than we. It's accepting with grace that we each have our own special abilities in different measure and it rejoices when someone else can go beyond our own abilities.
Charity is humble. This love does and then quietly steps back and forgets. It doesn't wait around for applause or acknowledgement. This love steps willingly into the shadows and says nothing about it.
Charity is courteous. It doesn't behave unseemly. It's polite in society. It uses etiquette. It's being a lady or a gentleman- that is a gentle soul.
Charity is unselfish. It doesn't go seeking it's rights. It willingly gives up it's rights, ignores them, for the happiness of someone else. And that is hard! Looking every man on the things of others instead of on his own things. This type of love has found the happiness in giving.
Charity has a good temper. It's not easily angered. It's not easily provoked. The thin skin of our current society has been tempered into a noble character. The sin of our disposition is not seen in this type of love.
Charity is innocent and sincere. They don't think evil of those around them. They rejoice in the truth, even if it hurts. Even if it isn't what they wanted to hear. This love will accept it with a humble attitude.
It is better not to live than not to ever know this type of love! Whether the authors of romance novels know it or not this is the love they want to write about. This is the love that so many crave and seek! This is the summum bonum of our existance!
But how? We understand what it is and what it isn't. We know what it is greater than. But, how do we acquire this love? How do we adapt this into our character?
If we are to look the opportunities are always around us. Life is an education, an eternal lesson on how we an learn to love. Don't laugh!
What makes a football player great? Practice.
What makes an artist magnificent? Practice.
How does a writer perfect his skill? Practice.
What makes a person learn to love? Practice.
It sounds so simple. But, what was Christ doing in the carpenter's shop? Practicing. He was already perfect, and yet the Bible says that he learned obedience, and grew in wisdom and favor with God and man. Practice.
Each day we grumble about those who are rude around us. We begrudge the trials that come our way. We may even resent the temptations that hinder us. But, we never stop to consider that this is the hand of the Almighty moulding us into his loving image. Through these we grow more beautiful, though we don't see it. Every trouble adds to the perfection of becoming Christ-like. Goethe said, "Talent develops itself in solitude; character in the stream of life."
Through practice the light of God's love will shine through us as a glowing, dazzling, element that will bring lost souls to Christ. This is the Summum Bonum. This is the purpose of our lives. We love, because He loved.
If we had this type of love we would never think about lying to the object of our affection. We would never dare to steal any item from them. We wouldn't covet anything they had or could do because we would them to have the best and to be the best. We would definitely honor them in every action and decision we made. Our every thought and desire would be to encourage them to become the best person they could be.
The best part of this love is that it is eternal. Never ending. Forever. Charity never faileth: (I Corinthians 13:8a) The rest of the verse goes on to say that language will end (Latin, Greek, a thousand other ancient languages that are now gone), prophecies will cease (when Christ makes all things new), knowledge will vanish away (it becomes obsolete, something new always comes), but Charity- this amazing love- will endure because Christ is eternal. Because God is love!
The religions of the world can offer many things- peace, not life; faith, not love; justification, but not regeneration. Religion is not the answer- the answer is Charity, true love in it's purest form.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. -John 15:13.
I lived for myself, I thought for myself,
For myself, and none beside-
Just as if Jesus had never lived,
As if He had never died.
-Henry Drummond
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. -I John 4:8
