Hope for the Church (6)
Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love. 1 Corinthians 16.13, 14
Too much self-love
Part of the problem with the Corinthians was that they loved themselves more than they loved their neighbors.
They loved themselves so much that they vaunted their chosen group over the others, reserved the right to indulge in sinful practices, dragged their brethren into court, and turned the Lord’s Supper into a kind of privately catered party for people with means. And, for the most part, no one saw any problem in this.
It’s no wonder the theme of love features so prominently in 1 Corinthians (1 Cor. 13). The Corinthians practice of love was out of whack because this most basic affection of their hearts had been allowed to stray off center (2 Cor. 6.12).
But, as Paul pointed out, the real measure of a Christian is the way that he loves others; if we have no love for others, then all our other advantages or achievements are just so many clanging cymbals, devoid of beauty and grace. Such self-denying love for others grows out of the love we have for God. But the Corinthians had turned their worship services into a festival of self-vaunting and self-indulgence, where love and fear of God came in under the category, “Oh, yeah, that too.”
Only when the Corinthians renounced their out-of-control self-love and began to look at the world through the lens of love for God and neighbors would they be able to exercise the greatest gift and highest calling God could ever give. And only then would they join their voices and gifts to praise the Lord and build His Church together.
The state of love
In Acts 6 we read the account of the first deacons. They were selected by the church in Jerusalem and ordained by the apostles to take care of a problem that threatened the integrity and continuity of the church. These spirit-filled men handled that situation with such love that even their critics were astonished, for we read that a great company of the priests, when they witnessed this community resolving its differences in love, became persuaded of the Gospel and obedient to the faith.
I wonder what the state of love is in America’s churches today. I’m sure that some exists, and I’ve seen many examples of it.
But can we say that we are doing everything in love, as the outflowing toward our neighbors of the love we have for God, and with a view to meeting the needs of others before our own needs? Can it be said of our churches that they’re thinking more highly of the needs of others than themselves, serving and edifying others even at great cost to ourselves?
Hmmm.
What is the state of self-denying, sacrificial love in the churches of America today? If it were so pronounced, would young Christians publish books about themselves with titles like, They Love Christ but not the Church? Would we see so many young people falling away from the faith once they leave their homes and go to college? Would there be so much divorce, so many scandals, such low levels of giving, and so little shepherding in the churches if we really loved others like Christ has loved us?
Local churches are Kingdom signs and outposts. By their love for one another and their neighbors, they signal the arrival of the Kingdom not of this world. By their outreach of witness-bearing into every nook and cranny of their community, they carry the love of Christ and the Gospel to new soils and souls.
But where such love is lacking, the Kingdom shrivels, and the churches become ingrown and spiritually smug.
Examine yourself
Each of us needs to ask: Am I doing everything in my life—at home, school, work, in the community—in the self-denying, sacrificial love of Jesus? Is my worship intended as an expression above all of love for God, or am I always just looking for something for me? Am I the first to reach for the towel and basin when needs come into view, or do I wait for others to do the dirty work? Do I readily sign up to be equipped for ministry opportunities that will put me in contact with people I can love? Do I see others with the eyes of Jesus?
That is, Is the love of Jesus living, lively, and lovely in and through my life?
Paul reminded the Corinthians—as he would remind us—that we have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2.16). We can understand what He desires of us, His Kingdom people.
Now if only we could get more of His love. Pray that the Lord will make you conscious of every opportunity to show His love to others, and grant the desire and power to do all things in love.
For reflection or discussion
1. What opportunities for showing the love of Jesus will you have today? How should you prepare for these?
2. How can believers encourage one another in love for God and our neighbors?
3. Does the fact that people might reject or mock our efforts at loving them mean that we are excused from so doing? Explain.
Next steps—Transformation: Get ready for love today. Think and pray ahead to the people you will meet and the situations in which you can show the love of Jesus. In your mind, settle on one thing you can do in each situation to show the love of Jesus. Then go do it.
T. M. Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
A good supplement to this ongoing study on the Church is our free PDF book, Pray for Your Church. Download your copy from The Ailbe Bookstore by clicking here. Also, we encourage you to visit our ReThinking Church page, where you’ll see a variety of free resources to help you church.
This week: Our Read Moore podcast continues an extensive look at the Kingdom of God from our book, The Kingdom Turn. In our Crosfigell teaching letter, we are looking at the state of pastors and churches during the period of the Celtic Revival, using contemporary witnesses. And in our Scriptorium column we are studying the Gospel of Matthew. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
