Love Is the Greatest, and Love Never Fails
David W Palmer
(1 Corinthians 13:8, 13 NKJV) “Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. ... {13} And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
Strictly speaking, when this passage says “love never fails,” it means that love is eternal. Moreover, when it says that love is the “greatest,” it is saying that of all three eternal characteristics—faith, hope, and love—that love is the “greatest of these” three. However, these two phrases: “Love never fails,” and “love is the greatest,” inspire me devotionally in so many ways:
“Love Never Fails”
When not knowing what to do in a given relational situation, I remind myself that love never fails. So, I encourage you too, to always choose love as your first response. When we keep in mind all the things we have seen about love so far in this book, it gives us a wide scope for our responses: love encourages, expects the best, always defends, never gives up, is patient, is kind, is not rude, is not proud … the list goes on. These should always be our response to any person who interacts with us in any way. For example, Jesus was very definite in what he presented to us along this line:
(Matthew 5:5, 7, 9 NKJV) “Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. ... {7} Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. ... {9} Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.”
Meekness, mercy, and peacemaking are all part of love’s attitude and code of conduct. Jesus has a few more for us today:
(Matthew 5:40–42 NKJV) “If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. {41} And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. {42} Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.”
These are some of love’s responses to others wanting something from us. Remember, if we respond in love, we are responding in God. We may feel weak and vulnerable responding this way—we may even appear naive—but God is love; so responding in love is responding in the greatest power, wisdom, and authority that exists.
(Matthew 5:44 NKJV) “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”
Jesus’s instruction to “love your enemies” seems ridiculous, until, that is, we remember that God is love, and that God cannot fail; that’s why I remind myself that love never fails. What’s more, if we act in love, we are acting like God—imitating him as his sons and daughters:
(Matthew 5:45–46 NKJV) “That you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. {46} For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?”
God rewards us when we love like he does. Yes, our flesh, the world, and the devil all think that responding in what looks like vulnerable, naive love is very unwise and certainly “uncool.” But we must remember that responding in love is responding in God—and that he is wise, authoritative, and very very strong. So responding in love is the most positive, wise, and strongest response possible: Love never fails.
I guess Jesus best summarizes God’s heart when he says:
(Matthew 5:48 DKJV) “Therefore, be completely perfect in love, just as your Father in heaven is completely perfect in love.”
Love never fails because God cannot fail. Love is always the right way to respond and to act toward others. And always remember, love is eternal and love is the greatest. Plus, God rewards us eternally for acting like him on earth. So today—should the opportunities arise—be ready to: turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, give, forgive, pray for, and love your enemies; be perfect in love through God’s amazing grace in Jesus.