1 Corinthians 13:1-7 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
God is love. We who call ourselves by His name, should also be able to demonstrate love. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we should exude love. Love is a powerful drawing force. Love draws and hate repels. When someone shows us love, we want to be in their presence. We feel safe around them. If someone displays hate towards us, we immediately put our guard up. We are concerned about what harm they may cause us.
Even though I do not subscribe to a lot of her “spiritual” beliefs, I have always admired Oprah Winfrey’s ability to show love. She likes to hug people and seems genuinely to care about others. I have never been much of a hugger, but I like to help others. I have found out that when I help others, it helps me as well. It helps me to feel that I am serving a purpose and not just self centered.
Jesus said, by this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another. When we interact with others from a place of love, it sets the tone for the interaction. We are less judgmental, more forgiving, more accommodating. One consistent report of those who have visited heaven is about the almost overwhelming feeling of love that is there. They talk about a feeling of acceptance. A feeling of unconditional love. We all would like to be loved unconditionally. To have others love us, (as I describe it) warts and all. True unconditional love is not easy to find. It is found, most often, in the love a parent has for their children. The bible even says, if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly give good things to those who ask him (Luke 11:13).
Marriages, especially, need to have unconditional love. It is the glue that will keep two people together. A marriage is between two imperfect people trying to form a perfect union. It is difficult for two people to stay together unless there is some degree of unconditional love. A spouse may find themself wanting to stray or look for a new model, if the choice of a spouse was superficially based, too much, on outward appearance…appearances change. The best way to choose a spouse is to pray and have the Lord lead you. He knows our hearts and knows the heart of the person you are considering marrying.
The good thing is, we can pray and ask God for help in the areas where we fall short. We can pray and ask the Lord to show us how to love others as we love ourselves.