Boxes of candy; dozens of roses; scores of homemade cards; and that one special dinner reservation—this February 14th, people all around the world said “I love you” in all the traditional Valentine’s Day ways—when love is easier said than done. But then there’s February 15 and beyond when life’s demands—loss, loneliness, lowliness—require more than candy, cards, and Chardonay to say “I love you.” We need a real hug.
Not all loves are created equal. When times are hard, you need surer love—a 1 Corinthians 13 love—a doable love. We hear it read at every wedding, but have we really streamed it for its meaning. The Greek language has four names for love: storge, philia, eros and agape—the featured love in 1 Corinthians 13. Agape love is a practical, everyday love, when the day calls for urgent kindness.
Love is patient, love is kind. 1 Corinthians 13:4
For Elisia Manuel, one of those urgent calls came in 2012. Often, the calls from case workers come with an immediate call-to-action: a baby, a toddler, a child who is in desperate need of a safe home. There was an infant in need of immediate care. “A case manager said, ‘You have 48 hours, and we need this car seat back,’” Manuel said. “That’s where I knew we needed to make a change. We needed to figure out resources.” It was Manuel’s own experience as a foster parent and adoptive mother that led her to start her nonprofit, Three Precious Miracles, a volunteer-run organization that supports vulnerable Native American youth and their families. “Within six months I became a mom to four children that were all under the age of 2 years old,” Manuel said. “I tell people, ‘I was abundantly blessed.’” After fostering eight children, Elisia Manuel knows how easy it is for kids to lose touch with their Native American culture. So, she’s keeping them connected. That day, practical love, agape love was kind and doable.
Church, seek opportunities every day to practice what the Church sings what John 13:35 calls us to do: “They will know we are Christian by our love, by our love. They will know we are Christians by our love.” Like a field of dreams where, “if you build it, they will come.” If you build a church on Agape--a more durable and doable than a tune, a chocolate treat, or a stuffed toy for one day in February, people run into your arms for a hug. It’s a tool to rebuild community.
The Corinthians, however, handled their spiritual gifts like children with toys like yoyos, beanie babies and Chia Pets—hot today and gone tomorrow—gifts with short, shelf lives.
They toyed with prophecy, the gift of foretelling the future. But when Judgment Day comes, there will no longer be the necessity to predict the next real estate boom. John’s Book of Revelation predicted a new heaven and new earth. Prophecy will be done.
They toyed with speaking in tongues. But when Judgment Day comes, a great multitude of every tongue and nation will be speaking the same message “Salvation belongs to God” according to John’s Book of Revelation. UN interpreters will close shop.
They toyed with the gift of knowledge. The wisdom of men was coveted. But when Judgment Day comes, all wisdom will go to the worthy Lamb of God. PhD’s will be MIA. So, what gift will survive Judgment Day?
Faith won’t be in heaven. Faith is the evidence of things unseen according to Hebrews. But in heaven we will see Jesus. We won’t have to believe.
Hope won’t be in heaven. “Hope that is seen is not hope” according to Romans 8:24. But in heaven we will see Jesus. We won’t have to hope to see him.
So, what of love? 1 Corinthians 13:13 says the greatest of these is a love that has no end. John 3:16 says it best: “For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten Son for whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Agape is an everlasting love. So church, major in that which is primary, practical, and permanent, not in that which fades in divisive days as some churches do.
Some churches major in membership size and worship styles. Traditional, blended, contemporary service: the style police are their pastor. Some churches major in real estate. Location, location, location is their praise. Some churches major place in décor: red carpet, stained glass; and chandeliers.
These churches will go by the way of the day-old, opened boxes of chocolates, week-old roses, and unsold drugstore Valentine’s Day cards, shelved till next year. But if you want to be a Judgment Day church, answer the urgent call for kindness like Elisia Manuel. Resist stuffed-toy love. Be a 1 Corinthian Church. Be kinder. We all can use a hug.
Comments