Let all that you do be done in love.
1 Corinthians 16:14
It seems so simple, and yet so difficult. Paul gives us a clear insight into the reason behind what we do and why it matters. Because we are people, we are also prideful. If I’m honest, I find myself doing things from time to time to receive benefits or recognition. And it’s not even a conscious thought. It rears itself in the pride that I try so hard to push back.
How do you make love your theme? Is it possible to do all in a spirit of love? Paul is specific and encouraging with his warning and instruction to the Corinthian church. But what does that look like in your world?
Love Diligently
If we’re going to be serious about our actions, we have to be diligent. I used to work at a screen door plant when Lari and I were first married. No air condition, no perks, just a check. We needed the money, and I needed to earn it. My job at the plant was to put a 2-inch steel barrel piece into the door. If done improperly, the door would not work, and I would see it again. I had to be diligent and unrelenting as I placed that piece into thousands of screen doors over that first summer we were married. It paid the bills.
My unrelenting pursuit of correctly assembling my part of the door was just as important as the guys who assembled the screen and glass.
When Paul speaks of love, he speaks of an unrelenting pursuit to make love our motivation in all that we do. And who does he think we should love? That answer is two-fold. We should love our neighbor (everyone) and our Lord.
Love Willingly
Forced love is not love at all. Forced love is a job. However, true love is something willingly given to others. Paul spends a lot of his time on the theme of love from chapters 8-16 in this letter. It must have been something the church needed to hear. If you go back and read 1 Corinthians 13, you will see Paul’s definition of love. It is quite challenging. We had those verses read at our wedding, and little did I know then that it would be a lifelong pursuit to love the way that Paul puts it. It’s not impossible, but it must come from a willing heart.
I know that my wife loves when I do acts of service for her. So when I clean the kitchen or do little odds and ends around the house, it affects her because she knows that I am willingly doing things out of my love for her, not because of pride and seeking a pat on the back.
Love Always
Finally, Paul instructs us to love always. We should do everything with a motivation of love. Self-serving love is love for ourselves. We must do everything in love. This kind of love is a strong, emotional, generous, and self-sacrificing type of love. Think about what Paul is writing here. He says to do “all in love.” Talk about difficult. The only possible way we can do everything in a self-sacrificing, strong, and emotional kind of love is first to love the Lord. If our hearts are not right with Him, our actions will not be right towards others.
Self-seeking love destroys the privilege of self-sacrificing love.
So what motivates you to do what you do? Do you do all that you do in love? I’m guessing not. But should that be our goal? I imagine that is Paul’s encouragement.
If you look at the last verse (24) in chapter 16, you see what Paul leaves with his friends in Corinth. He says, “My love be with you all in Christ Jesus.” He demonstrates all he’s been instructing. He intends for his love to be with them. He loves them and wants them to know it. How about you? Do others know that you love them by how you demonstrate that every day? Maybe that can be a new goal for you. I know it’s a constant goal for me.