Wednesday, 25 December 2013

Gentleness

- Boaz Battula
  3rd year 
  Aerospace engineering


1 Corinthians 13:1-4 (NIV)
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,but do not have love, I gain nothing.Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”

Whenever we talk to others we should check ourselves to see if we're gentle with our neighbors. We may speak in tongues and sing praises and worship him , this is all fine but if we don't have love in us then all the praises and speaking in tongues is of no use just as Paul is telling the people in Corinth. If we don't have love in us we'll be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal, a disturbance to our neighbors. Here, the first three verses talk about 'the necessity and advantage of the grace of love'


The “excellent way” mentioned at the close of the former chapter(ch 12), is not just what we call charity in our common use of the word i.e alms giving, but it refers also to love in its fullest meaning; true love towards God and man. Without this, the most glorious gifts are of no account to us, of no esteem in the sight of God. A clear head and a deep understanding, are of no value without a benevolent and charitable heart. There may be open and lavish hands, where there is not a liberal and charitable heart. Doing good to others will be of no meaning to us, if it is not done from love towards God, and goodwill to men. If we give away all we have, while we withhold the heart from God, it will be of not profit. Nor even the most painful sufferings for others is of any value if it does not come out of love. How deluded are those who look for acceptance and reward for their good works, which are as scanty and defective as they are corrupt and selfish! It is love and the right heart that must precede all of this.

1 Corinthians :13:4
“LOVE IS PATIENT AND KIND,LOVE DOES NOT ENVY OR BOAST, IT IS NOT ARROGANT OR RUDE.”
True love is such a beautiful thing cause it suffereth long...under provocation of evil from others we should receive them gladly!! Love is kind, the positive side of love...extending good to others. We read about it in James 3:17. “But wisdom from above is first pure.”
Reading ahead, we find that Love does not. envy..we should not be jealous. As we go on and meditate on this chapter Paul explains clearly how to live in this world a life of gentleness and true love.

If we read the last verse (1 Corinthians:13:13)
“SO NOW FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE ABIDE THESE THREE; BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE.” 


 Paul says, faith, hope and love will abide but genuine hope and faith, i.e faith with works will be possible only because of love, so he goes on to say that greatest of these is LOVE.


Shall we check our lives today? Are we showing love to others? Am I a good example to my neighbors? Does my life reflect the love and gentleness of Christ above all else?
Let us be gentle and loving because the greatest of these is LOVE. God bless you!


No comments:

Post a Comment