1 Corinthians 13 is one of the best-known passages in the Bible. People can quote parts or even all of this chapter. It is known as "The Love Chapter." I know as a child I memorized First Corinthians 13 in Sunday School, and though I probably could not say it perfectly now so many years later, I can still quote most of it. Its words about love are powerful and somewhat poetic.
Love is greater
I think part of the appeal of this passage is its focus on love. It is hard not to feel drawn toward love in any context. Specifically, Paul shows us faith, hope, and love abide, but the greatest of these three is love. A little earlier in the chapter, we are told that "love never fails." Such is the power of love.
It is an amazing thing to consider that love is somehow greater than faith and hope. I think that a case could be made for either faith or hope is the greatest thing there is, but First Corinthians 13 tells us that they both take a backseat to love. We know that "without faith, it is impossible to please God" and that "we walk by faith, not by sight," and faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains, but somehow, love is greater. We also know that hope is essential for human accomplishment and even human existence. Hope is what enables someone to persevere, even when faith is gone, and love seems absent. Hope is life-giving, even when all of life is at its' worst. As long as hope survives, we can move forward and continue. Hope is vital, yet somehow, love is greater.
Love is More
The scripture tells us that love is more significant than faith or hope and also indicates why. In trying to understand why this is the case, I don't think the answer is found in some dreamy-eyed, mushy, sentimentality, or warm, fuzzy feeling. It is not because it "feels so good" to love or to be loved. There is something more profound than even the best of feelings. Consider what is stated in verses 4-7 of the chapter:
"Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
Love motivates
These verses do not speak of emotion but action. Love is so powerful because it speaks to the motivation of our hearts to act according to the dictates of love, without regard to how we may feel at the moment. When our hearts are so aligned with the heart of God (who so loved the world that He gave), we are motivated to act according to the good of others. It is not necessarily what feels good to them, but what is actually in their best interest, regardless of how we may feel, is truly love. It is the most perfect and powerful force of all. Both faith and hope are essential and transformational, but to be motivated by genuine love is indeed that which is greatest.
As Lent commences on Ash Wednesday, we are entering a time of introspection and prayer leading to Easter. Let us reflect on the significance of death preceding resurrection, urging readers to embrace a daily practice of surrendering self in preparation for our spiritual transformation.