1 Corinthians 13:2 Love is for Real
“If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing” (NLT).
Wow, that’s quite a statement. Don’t you think that it would be impressive to others and draw them to God if I could move mountains? Well, it would certainly be impressive to their minds and perhaps make them wonder about this “faith” thing, and maybe want it. That’s a move in the right direction, but does the person really understand all that’s needed to get this “faith” thing to work? It takes a commitment to God and to His conditions, and it takes time to develop faith. There is a responsibility that goes along with that kind of faith. That kind of faith is not used for personal gain. It is used for the betterment of someone else. To get to the point where I use my faith to help someone else, I have to realize that God expects me to love. That’s the basic condition upon which He operates because God is love. God does not prefer love, God does not use love. God does not say that we should love, but it is His commandment to love. As Jesus spoke in Matthew 22:37-40: “Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and will all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments’” (NIV). There you have it in the words of the master, Jesus, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” That’s a command and not a suggestion. “But I don’t like my neighbor, he’s a real pest.” You are still commanded to love him. He may well need it more than some of your best friends.
As Paul tells in the Scripture above, “…but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.” Being a person who will stand beside someone in his hour of need, lend a helping hand, speak encouragement, go beyond what the world would think is enough, and pray for him, will touch his heart even more than moving the mountain with faith. Moving the mountain is a “once and done” act, but being a friend in need, a friend indeed, touches the heart over a long period of time, and that touch will demonstrate God’s love and will draw the person to Him.
If you want to be “something,” love somebody with the love that God gives you to share. P.S. It might be harder than moving a mountain, but more satisfying.