Take a Vow: Week 2 - Tuesday

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

During the weekend message, we were called to maturity, particularly in the way we love others, especially our spouses. This kind of mature love, we were reminded, loves even when we do not feel like showing love and remains committed to loving others every single day. If we want to have thriving relationships, especially thriving marriages, we have to grow in maturity. We must change our perspective on love, shifting from focusing on what others can do for us and loving based on our emotions to a commitment to serve and care for others, regardless of our feelings. 

The apostle Paul describes this kind of mature love in 1st Corinthians 13. Yesterday, we studied the first half of this passage of Scripture, which teaches us that love is patient, kind, not envious or rude, and many other attributes that do not come naturally to us human beings. To love in this way, we need God to change our hearts and minds. Today, we are going to look at the second half of 1st Corinthians 13. After defining genuine, Christ-like love, Paul emphasized the importance of maturity. He wrote, “Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless, but love will last forever!” (verse 8). One day, these things will be useless because they will no longer be needed. Love, on the other hand, will always remain. Next, Paul continued, “When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things” (verse 11). These childish things are the things of this world, such as selfishness, impatience, unkindness, and loving only when it benefits us. Paul explained that as he matured, he turned from these “childish things” of this world.  As Paul concluded this chapter, he wrote, “Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me completely” (verse 12). When Christ returns and we spend eternity with Him forever, our faith will become sight and we will see everything clearly, with, as Paul wrote, “perfect clarity.” In light of these things, Paul ended this chapter with these words: “Three things will last forever–faith, hope, and love–and the greatest of these is love” (verse 13). Love is the greatest thing because it will always remain and be a central part of us. It is what connects us to each other and, most importantly, God.

The question at hand today is “Are we ready to grow up?” Are we ready and willing to move toward maturity, committing to others, most importantly our spouses, to always love them and to love regardless of what we are feeling? I urge you to choose maturity and to commit to mature love, first in your relationship with God, second in your relationship with your spouse, and finally, in your relationships with everyone else around you. After all, “Three things will last forever–faith, hope, and love–and the greatest of these is love.”

Moving Toward Action

Take a few moments to reflect on your life. Are you mature when it comes to the way you love others, especially your spouse, or do you need to commit to growth? Regardless of your answer, there is always room for growth. Think of what step you can take toward maturity when it comes to how you love the people around you. If you are married, let your answer be related to how you can mature when it comes to how you love your spouse. Commit to taking that step starting today. Don’t forget to ask God to help you as you seek to grow in this area. 

Going Deeper

1st Corinthians 13:8-13