Love is all ya need . . .

I have a theory that the Beatles are somehow related to everything, so they certainly wrote on the most important concept ever revealed. In fact, with All you need is Love, they hit it right on the head. In any case, Love seemed like a good place to start, partly because the funkiness of Ringo still stands out after almost 40 years, and partly because of the last verse of 1 Corinthians 12 "My brothers, I show you a better way." Clearly, the better way is love, because we know that 1 Corinthians 13 is "The Love Chapter." You know, the famous "If I give everything I have to the poor, but have not Love . . ." The real question we should ask is, what was Paul talking about when he decided we needed to know the more excellent way? What was the context?

1 Corinthians 12 is an extended discussion on spiritual gifts. There is a brief discussion on tounges, but it actually mentions a list of the most important gifts - in order. First apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, gifts of healing, helps, gifts of leadership, different kinds of tongues. So if you're say, an apostle, with a prophetic gift & the ability to heal people, but you're not doing it all with love, it's pretty much worthless. The scary part is when I apply that to my life. I'm going to seminary, presumably to become a better teacher, and to better understand leadership in the local church. A noble goal, certainly, but worthless if I don't do it in love, and if love is not an integral part of my ministry.

Practically, love is much harder to accomplish in our daily lives than anything else. It's far easier to teach, or lead than it is to truly love. The requirements to actually demonstrate love are much to difficult. I am not, naturally patient or kind, although rudeness, self centeredness, anger and resentment come easily. I'm fallen, after all. The qualities of love somehow always elude me. Even when I'm outwardly cool while I should be annoyed, inside me there's a little boy slamming his fists on the table and crying "I WANT IT MY WAY." And I'm only being annoyed! Christ was patient while they lied about his character, flayed his back, and nailed him to a board! I can't love like that!