February 5, 2023
Perhaps you have been present at a scene like this:
Artfully arranged bouquets of flowers wait for the event to begin.Well-dressed guests file quietly into the venue. Restful, beautiful music flows like surround-sound. The “stars” of the show parade in and take their places.
The wedding service begins and soon someone reads the famous “love chapter” from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians.
Candles flicker and promises float but the lovely words lull everyone into thinking that loving someone is somehow soft and easy. Even solemn vow phrases like: “in sickness and in health” sound happily heroic.
But what did Paul really say? First of all he clarifies that: human or angelic eloquence, prophetic giftedness, deep spiritual knowledge, strong faith, sacrificial generosity to the poor, or death as a martyr mean nothing – are even like an irritating gong sound - if not carried out with love. Whew!
How did Paul define true love? (Best to find out before the wedding venue is vacated!) Here his “test words.” Take a deep breath...for these apply to any human interaction:
Patience
Kindness
No envy or boastfulness
No rudeness or irritability
No insisting on our own way
More next week!
