Endurance

1 Corinthians 13:7d love endures all things

One of the saddest things I’ve heard a brother say is “Why would God love me?” Agape love is an enduring love and we should never judge God’s love by our own ability to commit to love. All you have to do is look at marital statistics on divorce to understand why human love doesn’t endure.

I wise old man once told me the foundation for marriage is not love but rather commitment. That advice has lasted me well of 51 years of marriage to two women. My first wife died after 37 years of marriage that didn’t last because of love but rather commitment.

If we base our love purely on emotions, we are doomed to fail. Love has to be a choice not a warm fuzzy. Emotions change like the direction of the wind, first here, then there. Maybe that is why wedding vows are an oath, a commitment to do the loving thing.

Numbers 30:2 If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

This is OT but look what Jesus says about oaths!

Matthew 5:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:

Why? Because God will hold you to your oaths. Oaths are meant to be serious and wedding vows are meant to be taken seriously. Jesus said the only acceptable reason for divorce is adultry.

Does that mean God divorces us if we cheat on Him? No, we have not yet married, we are betrothed. As such we are treated as a daughter and God does not set aside daughters, He protects them zealously.

Hopes

1 Corinthians 13:7c love hopes all things

All things is an inclusive phrase and considering that we have been eliminating many of the negative and sinful things from consideration, all here is not inclusive. Here is how I reframe this portion of the verse to have a better understanding of how agape love hopes.

Agape love hopes that our response to His presence in our heart produces all the results He intended for us. That we would love like God, we should be holy like God, that we would shine His light on a lost world, and that agape love be actively involved in good works. That may sound like a lot to ask for in one thought but it is after all who God is in character and performance.