The Daily Word

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Before we move on to the positive attributes of love, particularly as we find it in the Bible, there are 2 personal ‘negativities’ which can be mistaken for attributes of love, that we find at the start of 1 Corinthians 13. These are expressed thus in the NIV, “If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship, that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing”.

Here we have two contrasting but linked activities that could be used as demonstrations of love. Another word used for love in the KJV is ‘charity’. And we talk about giving to charity when we donate to a worthy cause. When Jesus met the rich young ruler, who wanted to “inherit eternal life”, Jesus saw into his heart that he loved his riches more than he could ever love God and when he was told to give everything to the poor, he went away sorrowful. 

These 2 acts could be described as penance, seeking to pay in physical terms to gain spiritual benefit. But unless that love for the Lord is uppermost in a person’s life, which in turn cascades to a personal love for others, then no such penitent acts will bring spiritual benefit. We are reminded of the Pharisees in Jesus’ time who made great show of giving money in the Temple and also applied make-up when they were fasting because it was done to seek men’s approbation, a demonstration of giving but without any love being demonstrated towards God or God’s people.

If our hearts are right before God and we feel His love in our hearts, we may enter into either of these activities with blessing, provided they are almost done in secret, only between us and God, and we should never boast of either activity.

Article written by Brian Preston, Elder @SFGH Church 

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