The apostle Paul closed his letter to the believers in Corinth with those simple words almost two thousand years ago – do everything in love!(1) And those words couldn’t possibly be more relevant to us today. The strength of the message not only lies in its simplicity; it lies in its completeness.
DO – It’s not a passive word; it commands action. It means we don’t just sit and watch; we get up and act. It’s not a reactive word; it’s a proactive word. We need to initiate. It’s not enough to simply agree. Now is the time to act.
EVERYTHING – It doesn’t leave anything out. It includes our words – those that we speak, those that we post, those that we tweet and those that we think. Now is not the time to be careless with our words. Words can divide. Words can offend. Words can inflame. But if we use our words carefully, they can unite. Instead of hurting with our words, we can bring healing with our words. Words can encourage. Words can build up, instead of tear down.
But “everything” doesn’t stop with just our words. It includes our attitudes and actions. It includes what we are doing and what we are not doing. It means we can’t justify destructive behavior by claiming good intent. It means that our words, our attitudes and our actions must all be in alignment.
IN – If we are “in” something, we are surrounded by it. We’re not on the outside looking in. We’re not partially in and partially out; we’re fully committed. And if we’re not “in”, we are out. We can’t pretend to be in – we either are, or we are not.
LOVE – That brings us to the defining word. And Paul wasn’t talking about a love that is here today and gone tomorrow. He was talking about a love that
is patient and kind;
does not envy or boast;
is not arrogant or rude;
does not insist on its own way;
is not irritable or resentful;
does not rejoice at wrongdoing;
rejoices with the truth.
It is a love that
bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things,
endures all things.
It never ends, and
It never fails!(2)
We would do well to heed Paul’s words – do everything in love!
(1) 1 Corinthians 16:14
(2) 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
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