After describing our duties in the
corporate body, the church, Paul goes on to enumerate the ethics required for a
Christian’s everyday life. In verses 9 to 13 of Chapter 12, Paul literally
describes ‘love in action,’ in a Christian’s life.
In 1 Corinthians 13:13, Paul
declares that of the three, faith, hope and love, love is the greatest. In 1
Corinthians 8:1, he recalls that love builds us up. In Colossians 3:14,
he affirms that love binds us in unity.
Love is the central principle of Paul’s
social ethics. It is the agape love,
sacrificial and self-giving love as exemplified by God, who gave His Son to die
for us even when we were sinners. Romans 5:8. This divine love is poured
into our hearts by the Holy Spirit Romans 5:5, to the measure we yield
to him.
Has not our Lord Jesus pronounced
love for God and love for our neighbor as the twin most important commandments
according to the Scriptures? Matthew 22:37-40.
First in the list is sincere love in
verse 9. It is a love without any hypocrisy, with no playacting or pretensions.
There are no ulterior motives in such a love. It is not just courtesy or
politeness, though these are to be highly appreciated. A sincere love from the
heart is what Paul means here.
Secondly, a brotherly love which
seeks to honor the other more than ourselves. It is the philos love or Philadelphia,
love for a brother or a sister, within the family. We are all one big family,
all brothers and sisters in Christ, with God as our loving Father. We learn to
put others’ needs first, before us. There is no room for self-exultation or
pride or boasting in such a family.
Third, there has to be zeal in our
love for God, and with spiritual fervor we are to serve the Lord. No lethargy,
or sluggishness or lagging or laziness is to be exhibited in such a service. We
are to be diligent in serving our Lord.
If this life on earth is a training ground
for life in eternity that is to come, we need to be diligent. A heart that is
warm for God, burning for God and ablaze for God is required. Our spirits have
to be warm and hot, and not lukewarm, which the Lord will spew out. Revelation
3:15,16. I am reminded of the lovely book “Ablaze for God,” by Wesley L.
Duewel. If you get the book, please read it.
Three quick telegraphic rules follow
in verse 12. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer.
Christian is always an optimist. He
has hope, hope that Christ is in control and that the best is yet to come. We
operate under His grace, which is sufficient for us as indicated in 2
Corinthians 12:9, and also, we can do all things on Christ who strengthens
us. Philippians 4:13. No task is difficult for us and there are no
hopeless situations in life with Christ at hand to help us.
Patience in tribulations is
fortitude. We have the faith that God will protect us from evil, but perchance
any evil should befall us, we still have faith that God, who has allowed this
in our lives, will be with us as we pass through the difficulty. As Psalmist
sings in Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me and your rod and your
staff, they comfort me.”
Like the three friends of Daniel, who
were thrown into the blazing furnace, we can also say, “God we serve is able to
save us from it” … “but even if he does not, we will (still) not serve your
gods,” or the worldly ways. Daniel 3:16,18. That is the confidence we
have in Christ. For, did he not say, “In this world you will have trouble. But
take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.
As we worship such a
God, we need fear no evil. Praise God for that confidence. This restores peace
to our hearts, a peace that passeth understanding.
To be faithful in prayer, we need to
persevere, like in the parable of the widow and the judge, which Jesus narrated
in Luke 18:1. Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “pray without
ceasing.” We are not to give up our prayers, but always be ready to yield to
His Will in our lives.
Lastly, Paul exhorts us to share with
God’s people who are in need, within the church first. We also need to practice
hospitality. Hebrews 13:2, asks us to entertain strangers, for you never
know you might be entertaining angels. 1 Peter 4:9 impresses the need to
entertain each other without grumbling.
When we entertain and show
hospitality to believers, we are entertaining God’s own children. So, let us do
it gladly, offering the best we can afford, taking out the best crockery and
the best cutlery that we have reserved for VIPs. The believers are coming in
the name of Christ and we need to give them our best.
God be with us and give us the
strength to practice all these virtues that are listed by Paul and others in
the Scripture.
Amen.
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