1 Corinthians 13:4-7 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁴ Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant ⁵ or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶ it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

This is the description of perfect love. It does not say anything about a measure of love. If we only love others who will return a measure of love, is that love?

Luke 6:34 English Standard Version (EV) And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.

If we view love of money as an element of this verse then love is part of the equation. 1 Corinthians 13 does not speak to a measure of love because it is not to be withheld.

Matthew 22:37 English Standard Version (ESV) And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”

Since the perfect love of God abides in us without measure we are asked not to love by measure.

What would you do for love?

Before you answer that remember that Christ died willingly to gain our love. He held nothing back.

Romans 10:17 King James Version (KJV) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Galatians 3:2 King James Version (KJV) This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

What does faith tell us that education and reasoning does not?

Matthew 13:11 King James Version (KJV) He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

A mystery is a mystery until the truth of it is revealed. Those without faith cannot receive the truth because it is not in them. They have neither faith nor the Spirit of Truth.

It is true that all mankind is given faith but what you do with that faith matters. Where you invest your faith matters. Put you faith in the stock market and you might receive a monetary gain, but there is no guarantee. Put your faith in a casino and you will lose in the long run because the odds are with the house. Put your faith in people and they will end up showing you they are human, with human limits and liabilities.

There are risks in placing your faith in everything except Christ. Put your faith in Christ and you receive the promises of God. God does not lie. God is faithful. God is true.

Ephesians 1:9 King James Version (KJV) Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

The most important part of God’s will here is in recognizing His good pleasure. The blessings of God’s good pleasure are found by revelation of faith. Having placed our faith in Christ we now have access to God’s good pleasure.

Jeremiah 29:11 King James Version (KJV) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Don’t you want to know God’s plan for you?