AND THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE

During a table discussion in the Bible study I attended in New Jersey, one of the older ladies asked me the question, “Were you ever poor?”  I don’t remember what I had said to prompt her question, but the manner in which she asked it led me to believe I had said something very insensitive about the poor.  She remembered being poor and my words hurt her.

I was born in the late 1940s to parents who never went to high school.  My mom was just 19 when I was born.  We lived in cold water flats, heated by kerosene.  When we turned the lights out at night the place was alive with mice.  I didn’t think we were poor, but I guess we were, however, that lowly beginning didn’t develop in me a sensitivity to those who are.

I was the first in my family not only to finish high school, but to get a college degree.  Some members of the family were quick to tell my parents what a waste it was to educate a daughter when she was “just going to grow up and have babies.”  I’m glad they didn’t listen!

After we married, Jim and I spent the majority of our years living in one of the most affluent towns in New Jersey.  We weren’t the “Joneses”, but we were comfortable.  Everyone we knew went to college.  Everyone in our neighborhood drove nice cars, had nice homes, graduated their kids from our excellent school system and sent them on to good colleges.  

Here in Florida we live in a beautifully kept enclave in an economically depressed area.  A two-minute walk from our condo is a strip mall with a dollar store, a Reno gambling parlor, and a pool hall.  I feel a little uneasy walking over there, especially at night.  I think it’s safe, but it’s an environment I’m not used to and would usually avoid.

Since we’ve been here I’ve noticed a lot.  The people we make fun of in those Facebook photos from Walmart really do exist.  I’ve seen many women still in their teens, or just out of them, pushing carts with small children.  I notice many people reeking with the scent of too many cigarettes smoked.  I’ve noticed the evidence of a lack of dental care.  And too much fast food.  

I’ve noticed something else too.  I’ve noticed that my first reaction is criticism, a lack of love, and self-righteousness.  I’ve noticed that on a “how much do I care” scale of 1-10, I’m down at the low end.  And I’m ashamed.

So I’m thinking that is why He, who knows the true state of my heart at any given time, led me to begin reading 1 John even before I came here.  These are the words the Lord is using to shine His light into the darkness of my heart:

By this we know love, because Jesus laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in Him?

Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  Beloved, if God so love us, we also ought to love one another.

How sad it is to see IN MYSELF a heart that shuts itself up against those not like me.

I’ve heard pastors who preach on the words and teachings of Jesus in the gospel, point out that when Jesus says, “Truly, truly I say unto you”, He uses “truly” twice to emphasize the importance of His point.  So, when the Lord says something to me TWICE from different sources, I listen!

This Sunday the pastor of the church we attended began a sermon series – get ready for it – on 1 Corinthians 13 – typically thought of as the love chapter!  I feel a lesson coming!

The pastor’s theme was, “Love IS before love DOES”.  That alone went straight to my heart.  How can I TREAT others who are not like me lovingly, unless I love them the way God does?  It’s a heart issue.

The pastor went on to talk about all the gifts that were evident in the Corinthian church – miracles, teaching, preaching, tongues – and they were so proud of their giftedness.  However, with all their gifts, they lacked what Paul described as the “most excellent way”, the way of love.  The way of love, Paul says, is long suffering, kind, not envious, not proud, not rude, not self centered, not easily provoked.  It thinks no evil, it doesn’t rejoice in wrong, but rejoices in the truth, it bears all things, believes all things, hopes in all things and endures all things.

The pastor asked the question: “How do I know that the character of Jesus is being worked in me?”  His answer: I am becoming less critical and more loving.

Moving here is opening my physical and spiritual eyes to the things that have always existed, but to which I was blind.  But before I can respond with love, I need for Jesus to break my heart with the things that break His.   

I know I haven't heard God's last on the subject.