Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Selfless love is love that is not self-centered. What do I mean by self-centered? That is, thinking of oneself instead of others. Examples of self-centered minds are like the ones below.
• If it is s blessings…then let me be the first to receive; forgetting we are “…more blessed to give than to receive.”
• If it is a prize someone received, you ask question ‘why them and not me?’ and then pick an offence with others in the process.
• In a family you want your decisions only to be applicable and do not care about others, i.e., spouse or children.
• No conscience when you wrong a person instead of saying ‘sorry’
• Can’t compliment another after they have done something that is good.
Rather, selfless love must always…
Think of others first and you will be more blessed.
[Abraham and Lot]
Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me.
If you take the left hand,
then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand,
then I will go to the left.
Genesis 13:9
Not keep record of wrongs, is always kind
[Joseph and his brothers]
“No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.”
So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.
Genesis 50:21
Not envious
[Moses]
But Moses replied “Are you jealous for my sake?
I wish that all the Lords people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!”
Numbers 11:29
Protects
[Paul]
Even as I try to please everybody in every way.
For I am not seeking my own good
but the good of many so that they may be saved.
1 Corinthians 10:33
Perseveres
[Jesus Christ]
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich,
yet for your sake He became poor,
so that you through His poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9
As believers let us encourage one another to have selfless love and do as the Word says in the passage (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) we are focusing on this week. We were made in His own likeness and so we have to show the likeliness of God. In whatever we do, how we speak, the way we carry ourselves…let those who see us thank God and turn to God. We should not grieve the Spirit with our deeds and cause the name of the Lord to not be worshipped.
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Oh Lord, my God, how wonderful You are! You loved us and gave us Christ so we are co-heirs in your Kingdom. Renew our minds that we should not be conformed to the things of the world but represent Christ in all we do. Let us bear love that is selfless, Lord. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
About Ann Mwafulirwa
Ann, selfless love is hard. But as you said “We were made in His own likeness,” therefore through God’s Holy Spirit living in us we can do it. Thank you for the godly examples in Scripture. I’m definitely praying your prayer today!