Why is love so important?

Why is love so important?

We hear sermons and read books on 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter. We are told God is love and that love is centrally important.  Why? What does this mean?

Love is when we are most like God.

We live in a complex love-world.

We love and we are loved.

We want love.

We want to love better.

We admire examples of loving people.

We say that God is love and wonder what that means.

We don’t fully understand God’s love for us when we are unlovable.

We have trouble loving ourselves.

Life is worthless without love…even the good things (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

Every good thing in life is meaningless without love. That is how important love is. This is so alien in our world of achievement and possession.

What love is (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Love is patient and kind and etc. Love is hard to do and be. The actions of love are against our natural inclinations.

Love lasts (1 Corinthians 13:8-12)

In a world where some many things we treasure are so temporary, love lasts. Love outlasts our most prized possessions, things we paid dearly for and protect with fences and insurances.

The big three: Faith, hope, love (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Our faith will become sight.

We will see and experience the things we believe now.

Our Christian hope will be realized.

Our Savior and our trust in him will be vindicated.

Why is love the greatest (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Because, love never ends.

Love was in the beginning before God created.

It characterized him.

We grow in love as we grow in godliness.

In eternity, love will be perfected.

We will be changed… fallenness and finiteness will be gone.

All evil will be banished.

The dwelling place of God will be with his redeemed children. (Revelation 20:7-10; 21:1-8)

The Devil, the world system and our flesh will not tempt us anymore.

We will see Jesus clearly and forever.

Love is when we are most like God.

Questions for consideration:

Why is being loved so important to us?

Why is it so important to God?

What imperfections in your love will be changed in heaven?