Post by Admin on Jan 21, 2024 12:50:29 GMT -5
LOVE
LOVE is rightly called "the Queen of Christian graces." "The goal of
this command," says Paul, "is love" (1 Timothy 1:5). It is a grace
which all people profess to admire. It seems a plain practical thing
which everybody can understand. It is none of "those troublesome
doctrinal points" about which Christians disagree. Thousands, I
suspect, would not be ashamed to tell you that they know nothing
about justification, or regeneration, or about the work of Christ, or of
the Holy Spirit. But nobody, I believe, would like to say that he
knows nothing about love! If men possess nothing else in religion,
they always flatter themselves that they possess "love."
A few plain thoughts about love will be very useful. There are false
notions about love which need to be dispelled. There are mistakes
about it which require to be rectified. In my admiration of love I yield
to none. But I am bold to say that in many minds the whole subject
seems completely misunderstood.
I. First, Let me show, "the place the Bible gives to love."
II. Secondly, let me show, "what the love of the Bible really is."
III. Thirdly, let me show, "where true love comes from."
IV. Lastly, let me show, "why love is `the greatest' of the graces."
I ask for the sincere attention of my readers to the subject. My heart's
desire and prayer to God is that the growth of love may be promoted
in this sin-burdened world. In nothing does the fallen condition of
man show itself so strongly as in the scarcity of Christian love. There
is little faith on earth, little hope, little knowledge of Divine things.
But nothing, after all, is as scarce as real love.
I. Let me show "the place which the Bible gives to love."
I begin with this point in order to establish the immense practical
importance of my subject. I do not forget that there are many
Christians in this present day who almost refuse to look at anything
practical in Christianity. They can talk of nothing but two or three
favorite doctrines. Now I want to remind my readers that the Bible
contains much about practice as well as about doctrine, and that one
thing to which it attaches great weight is "love."
I turn to the New Testament, and ask men to observe what it says
about love. In all religious inquiries there is nothing like letting the
Scripture speak for itself. There is no surer way of finding out truth
than the old way of turning to simple Bible texts. Texts were our
Lord's weapons, both in answering Satan, and in arguing with the
Jews. Texts are the guides we must never be ashamed to refer to in
the present day--What does the Scripture say? What is written? How
do you read it?
Let us hear what Paul says to the Corinthians: "If I speak in the
tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a
resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy
and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith
that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give
all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but
have not love, I gain nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
Let us hear what Paul says to the Colossians: "And over all these
virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity"
(Colossians 3:14). Let us hear what Paul says to Timothy: "The goal
of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good
conscience and a sincere faith" (1 Timothy 1:5). Let us hear what
Peter says: "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers
over a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8). Let us hear what our Lord
Jesus Christ Himself says about that love, "A new command I give
you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one
another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you
love one another" (John 13:34-35). Above all, let us read our Lord's
account of the last judgment, and mark that the lack of love will
condemn millions, "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from
me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil
and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I
was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink" (Matthew 25:41-42).
Let us hear what Paul says to the Romans: "Let no debt remain
outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he
who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law" (Romans 13:8). Let us
hear what Paul says to the Ephesians: "Live a life of love, just as
Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and
sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:2). Let us hear what John says: "Dear
friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone
who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not
love does not know God, because God is love" (1 John 5:7-8).
I shall make no comment upon these texts. I think it better to place
them before my readers in their naked simplicity, and to let them
speak for themselves. If any one is disposed to think the subject of
this paper a matter of insignificance, I will only ask him to look at
these texts, and to think again. He that would take down "love" from
the high and holy place it occupies in the Bible, and treat it as a
matter of secondary importance, must settle his account with God's
Word. I certainly shall not waste time in arguing with him.
To my own mind the evidence of these texts appears clear, plain, and
incontrovertible. They show the immense importance of love as one
of the "things that accompany salvation." They prove that it has a
right to demand the serious attention of all who call themselves
Christians, and that those who despise the subject are only exposing
their own ignorance of Scripture.
II. Let me show secondly, "what the love of the Bible really is."
I think it of great importance to have clear views on this point. It is
precisely here that mistakes about love begin. Thousands delude
themselves with the idea that they have "love," when they don't due
from a downright ignorance of Scripture. Their love is not the love
described in the Bible.
(a) The love of the Bible does not consist in giving to the poor. It is a
common delusion to suppose that it does. Yet Paul tells us plainly
that a man may "give all he possesses to the poor" (1 Corinthians
13:3), and not have love. That a loving man will "remember the
poor," there can be no question. (Galatians 6:10) That he will do all
he can to assist them, relieve them, and lighten their burdens, I don't
for a moment deny. All I say is that this does not make up "love." It is
easy to spend a fortune in giving away money, and soup, and bread,
and blankets, and clothing, and yet to be utterly destitute of Bible love.
(b) The love of the Bible does not consist in never disapproving
anybody's conduct. Here is another very common delusion!
Thousands pride themselves on never condemning others, or saying
they are wrong, whatever they may do. They convert the precept of
our Lord, "Do not judge," into an excuse for having no unfavorable
opinion at all of anybody. They pervert His prohibition of rash and
censorious judgments into a prohibition of all judgment whatsoever.
Your neighbor may be a drunkard, a liar, a violent man. Never mind!
"It is not love," they tell you, "to pronounce him, wrong." You are to
believe that he has a good heart at the bottom! This idea of love is,
unhappily, a very common one. It is full of mischief. To throw a veil
over sin, and to refuse to call things by their right names--to talk of
"hearts" being good, when "lives" are flatly wrong--to shut our eyes
against wickedness, and excuse their immorality--this is not Scriptural love.
(c) The love of the Bible does not consist in never disapproving
anybody's religious opinions. Here is another most serious and
growing delusion. There are many who pride themselves on never
pronouncing others mistaken, whatever views they may hold. Your
neighbor, for example, may be a Roman Catholic, or a Mormon. But
the "love" of many says that you have no right to think him wrong! If
he is sincere, it is "unloving" to think unfavorably of his spiritual
condition! From such love may I ever be delivered! At this rate the
Apostles were wrong in going out to preach to the Gentiles! At this
rate there is no use in missions! At this rate we had better close our
Bibles, and shut up our churches! Everybody is right, and nobody is wrong!
Everybody is going to heaven, and nobody is going to hell!
Such love is a monstrous caricature. To say that all are equally right
in their opinions, though their opinions flatly contradict one
another--to say that all are equally on their way to heaven, though
their doctrinal sentiments are as opposite as black and right--this is
not Scriptural love. Love like this pours contempt on the Bible, and
talks as if God had not given it as a written test of truth. Love like this
confuses all our notions of heaven and would fill it with a discordant
inharmonious rabble. True love does not think everybody is right in
their doctrines. True love cries--"Do not believe every spirit, but test
the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false
prophets have gone out into the world."--"If anyone comes to you
and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or
welcome him" (2 John 1:10).
I leave the negative side of the question here. I have dwelt upon it at
some length because of the days in which we live and the strange
notions which abound. Let me now turn to the positive side. Having
shown what love is not, let me now show what it is.
Love is that "love," which Paul places first among those fruits
brought forth in the heart of a believer. "The fruit of the Spirit is
love" (Galatians 5:22). Love to God, such as Adam had before the
fall, is its first feature. He that has love, desires to love God with
heart, and soul and mind, and strength. Love to man is its second
feature. He that has love, desires to love his neighbor as himself. This
is indeed that view in which the word "love" in Scripture is more
especially regarded. When I speak of a believer having "love" in his
heart, I mean that he has love to both God and man. When I speak of
a believer having "love" I mean more particularly that be has love to
man.
The love of the Bible will show itself in a believer's actions. It will
make him ready to do kind acts to everyone within his reach--both to
their bodies and souls. It will not let him be content with soft words
and kind wishes. It will make him diligent in doing all that lies in his
power to lessen the sorrow and increase the happiness of others. Like
his Master, he will care more for ministering than for being
ministered to, and will look for nothing in return. Like his Master's
great apostle he will very willingly "spend and be spent" for others,
even though they repay him with hatred, and not with love. True love
does not want rewards. Its work is its reward.
The love of the Bible will show itself in a believer's "readiness to
bear" evil as well as to do good. It will make him patient under
provocation, forgiving when injured, meek when unjustly attacked,
quiet when slandered. It will make him bear much, put up with much
and look over much, submit often and deny himself often, all for the
sake of peace. It will make him control his temper, and check his
tongue. True love is not always asking, "What are my rights? Am I
treated as I deserve?" but, "How can I best promote peace? How can
I do that which is most edifying to others?"
The love of the Bible will show itself in the "general spirit and
demeanor" of a believer. It will make him kind, unselfish, good natured,
good-tempered, and considerate of others. It make him
gentle, friendly, and courteous, in all the daily relations of private
life, thoughtful for others' comfort, tender for others' feelings, and
more anxious to give pleasure than to receive. True love never envies
others when they prosper, nor rejoices in the calamities of others
when they are in trouble. At all times it will believe, and hope, and
try to put to good use the actions of others. And even at the worst, it
will be full of pity, mercy, and compassion.
Would we like to know where the true Pattern of love like this can be
found? We have only to look at the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, as
described in the Gospels, and we will see it perfectly exemplified.
Love radiated forth in everything He did. His daily life was an
incessant "going about" doing good.--Love radiated forth in all His
manner. He was continually hated, persecuted, slandered,
misrepresented. But He patiently endured it all. No angry word ever
fell from His lips. No ill-temper ever appeared in His demeanor.
"When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when
He suffered, He made no threats" (1 Peter 2:23). Love radiated forth
in all His spirit and deportment. The law of kindness was ever on His
lips. Among weak and ignorant disciples, among sick and sorrowful
petitioners for help and relief, among tax-gathers and sinners,
among Pharisees and Sadducees, He was always one and the same--
kind and patient to all.
And yet, let it be remembered, our blessed Master never flattered
sinners, or connived at sin. He never shrunk from exposing
wickedness in its true colors, or from rebuking those who would
cleave to it. He never hesitated to denounce false doctrine by
whomsoever it might be held, or to exhibit false practice in its true
colors and the certain end to which it tends. He called things by their
right names. He spoke as freely of hell and the fire that is not
quenched, as of heaven and the kingdom of glory. He has left on
record an everlasting proof that perfect love does not require us to
approve everybody's life or opinions, and that it is quite possible to
condemn false doctrine and wicked practice, and yet to be full of love
at the same time.
I have now set before my readers the true nature of Scriptural love. I
have given a slight and very brief account of what it is not, and what
it is. I cannot pass on without suggesting two practical thoughts,
which press home on my mind with weighty force, and I hope may
press home on others.
You have heard of love. Think, for a moment, how deplorably little
love there is upon earth! How conspicuous is the absence of true love
among Christians! I do not speak of the heathen, I now speak of
Christians. What angry tempers, what passions, what selfishness,
what bitter tongues, are to be found in private families! What strifes,
what quarrels, what spitefulness, what malice, what revenge, what
envy between neighbors and fellow Church members! What
jealousies and contentions between those of varying doctrines!
"Where is love?" we may well ask,--"Where is love? Where is the
mind of Christ?" when we look at the spirit which reigns in the world.
No wonder that Christ's cause stands still, and sin abounds, when
men's hearts know so little of love! Surely, we can say "When the Son
of Man comes, will he find love on the earth?"
Think, for another thing, what a happy world this would be if there
was more love. It is the lack of love which causes half the misery
there is upon earth. Sickness, and death, and poverty will not
account for more than half the sorrows. The rest come from ill temper,
ill-nature, strifes, quarrels, lawsuits, malice, envy, revenge,
frauds, violence, wars, and the like. It would be one great step
towards doubling the happiness of mankind, and halving their
sorrows, if all men and women were full of Scriptural love.
III. Let me show, thirdly, "where the love of the Bible comes."
Love, such as I have described, is certainly not natural to man.
Naturally, we are all more or less selfish, envious, ill-tempered,
spiteful, ill- natured, and unkind. We have only to observe children,
when left to themselves, to see the proof of this. Let boys and girls
grow up without proper training and education, and you will not see
one of them possessing Christian love. Mark how some of them think
first of themselves, and their own comfort and advantage! Mark how
others are full of pride, passion, and evil tempers! How can we
account for it? There is but one reply. The natural heart knows
nothing of true love.
The love of the Bible will never be found except in a heart prepared
by the Holy Spirit. It is a tender plant, and will never grow except in
one soil. You may as well expect grapes on thorns, or figs on thistles,
as look for love when the heart is not right.
The heart in which love grows is a heart changed, renewed, and
transformed by the Holy Spirit. The image and likeness of God,
which Adam lost at the fall, has been restored to it, however feeble
and imperfect the restoration may appear. It is to "participate in the
Divine nature" by union with Christ and Sonship to God; and one of
the first features of that nature is love. (2 Peter 1:4)
Such a heart is deeply convinced of sin, hates it, flees from it, and
fights with it from day to day. And one of the prime elements of sin
which it daily labors to overcome, is selfishness and lack of love.
Such a heart is deeply aware of its mighty debt to our Lord Jesus
Christ. It feels continually that it owes to Him who died for us on the
cross, all its present comfort, hope, and peace. How can it show forth
its gratitude? What can it render to its Redeemer? If it can do
nothing else, it strives to be like Him, to walk in His footsteps, and,
like Him, to be full of love. The fact that, "God has poured out His
love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit" is the surest fountain of
Christian love. Love will produce love.
I ask my readers special attention to this point. It is one of great
importance in the present day. There are many who profess to
admire love, while they care nothing about vital Christianity. They
like some of the fruits and results of the Gospel, but not the root from
which these fruits alone can grow, or the doctrines with which they
are inseparably connected.
Hundreds will praise love who hate to be told of man's corruption, of
the blood of Christ, and of the inward work of the Holy Spirit. Many
a parent would like his children to grow up unselfish and good
tempered, who would not be very pleased if someone pressed upon
their children the need for conversion, and repentance, and faith.
Now I desire to protest against this notion, that you can have the
fruits of Christianity without the roots--that you can produce
Christian dispositions without teaching Christian doctrines--that you
can have love that will wear and endure without grace in the heart.
I grant, most freely, that every now and then one sees a person who
seems very loving and amiable, without any distinctive doctrinal
religion. But such cases are so rare and remarkable, that, like
exceptions, they only prove the truth of the general rule. And often,
too often, it may be feared in such cases the apparent love is only
external, an in private completely fails. I firmly believe, as a general
rule, you will not find such love as the Bible describes, except in the
soil of a heart thoroughly endowed with Bible religion. Holy practice
will not flourish without sound doctrine. What God has joined
together it is useless to expect to have separate and asunder.
The delusion which I am trying to combat is helped forward to a
most mischievous decree by the vast majority of novels, romances,
and tales of fiction. Who does not know that the heroes and heroines
of these works are constantly described as patterns of perfection?
They are always doing the right thing, saying the right thing, and
showing the right disposition! They are always kind, and amiable,
and unselfish, and forgiving! And yet you never hear a word about
their religion! In short, to judge by the generality of works of fiction,
it is possible to have excellent practical religion without doctrine, the
fruits of the Spirit without the grace of the Spirit, and the mind of
Christ without union with Christ!
Here, in short, is the great danger of reading most novels, romances
and works of fiction. The greater of them give a false or incorrect
view of human nature. They paint their model men and women as
they ought to be, and not as they really are. The readers of such
writings get their minds filled with wrong conceptions of what the
world is. Their notions of mankind become visionary and unreal.
They are constantly looking for men and women such as they never
meet, and expecting what they never find.
Let me entreat my readers, once for all, to draw their ideas of human
nature from the Bible, and not from novels. Settle it down in your
mind, that there cannot be true love without a heart renewed by
grace. A certain degree of kindness, courtesy, amiability, good
nature, may undoubtedly be seen in many who have no vital religion.
But the glorious plant of Bible love, in all its fullness and perfection,
will never be found without union with Christ and the work of the
Holy Spirit. Teach this to your children, if you have any. Hold it up in
schools, if you are connected with any. Lift up love. Make much of
love. Give place to none in exalting the grace of kindness, love, good
nature, unselfishness, good temper. But never, never forget that
there is but one school in which these things can be thoroughly
learned, and that is the school of Christ. Real love comes down from
above. True love is the fruit of the Spirit. He that would have it must
sit at Christ's feet and learn of Him.
IV. Let me show, lastly, "why love is called the 'greatest' of the
graces."
The words of Paul, on this subject, are distinct and unmistakable. He
winds up his wonderful chapter on love in the following manner:
"Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of
these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13).
This expression is very remarkable. Of all the writers in the New
Testament, none, certainly, exalts "faith" as highly as Paul. The
Epistles to the Romans and Galatians abound in sentences showing
its vast importance. By it the sinner lays hold of Christ and is saved.
Through it we are justified, and have peace with God. Yet here the
same Paul speaks of something which is even greater than faith. He
puts before us the three leading Christian graces, and pronounces the
following judgment on them,--"The greatest is love." Such a sentence
from such a writer demands special attention. What are we to
understand when we hear of love being greater than faith and hope?
We are not to suppose for a moment, that love can atone for our sins,
or make our peace with God. Nothing can do that for us but the
blood of Christ, and nothing can give us an interest in Christ's blood
but faith. It is unscriptural ignorance not to know this. The office of
justifying and joining the soul to Christ belongs to faith alone. Our
love, and all our other graces, are all more or less imperfect, and
could not stand the severity of God's judgment. When we have done
all, we are "unworthy servants" (Like 17:10).
We are not to suppose that love can exist independently of faith. Paul
did not intend to set up one grace in rivalry to the other. He did not
mean that one man might have faith, another hope, and another
love, and that the best of these was the man who had love. The three
graces are inseparably joined together. Where there is faith, there
will always be love; and where there is love, there will be faith. Sun
and light, fire and heat, ice and cold, are not more intimately united
than faith and love.
The reasons why love is called the greatest of the three graces, appear
to me plain and simple. Let me show what they are.
(a) Love is called the greatest of graces because it is the one in which
there is "some likeness between the believer and his God." God has
no need of faith. He is dependent on no one. There is none superior
to Him in whom He must trust.--God has no need of hope. To Him
all things are certain, whether past, present, or to come.--But "God is
love:" and the more love His people have, the more like they are to
their Father in heaven.
(b) Love, for another thing, is called the greatest of the graces
because "it is most useful to others." Faith and hope, beyond doubt,
however precious, have special reference to a believer's own private
individual benefit. Faith unites the soul to Christ, brings peace with
God, and opens the way to heaven. Hope fills the soul with cheerful
expectation of things to come, and, amid the many discouragements
of things seen, comforts with visions of the things unseen. But love is
preeminently the grace which makes a man useful. It is the spring of
good works and kindnesses. It is the root of missions, schools, and
hospitals. Love made apostles spend and be spent for souls. Love
raises up workers for Christ and keeps them working. Love smooths
quarrels, and stops strife, and in this sense "covers over a multitude
of sins" (1 Peter 4:8). Love adorns Christianity and recommends it to
the world. A man may have real faith, and feel it, and yet his faith
may be invisible to others. But a man's love cannot be hidden.
(c) Love, in the last place, is the greatest of the graces because it is
the one which "endures the longest." In fact, it will never die. Faith
will one day be swallowed up in sight, and hope in certainty. Their
office will be useless in the morning of the resurrection, and like old
almanacs, they will be laid aside. But love will live on through the
endless ages of eternity. Heaven will be the home of love. The
inhabitants of heaven will be full of love. One common feeling will be
in all their hearts, and that will be love.
I leave this part of my subject here and pass on to a conclusion. On
each of the three points of comparison I have just named, between
love and the other graces, it would be easy to enlarge. But time and
space both forbid me to do so. If I have said enough to guard men
against mistakes about the right meaning of the "greatness" of love, I
am content. Love, be it ever remembered, cannot justify and put
away our sins. It is neither Christ, nor faith. But love makes us
somewhat like God. Love is of mighty use to the world. Love will live
and flourish when faith's work is done. Surely, in these points of
view, love well deserves the crown.
(1) And now let me ask every one into whose hands this paper may
come a simple question. Let me press home on your conscience the
whole subject of this paper. Do you know anything of the grace of
which I have been speaking? Have you love?
The strong language of the Apostle Paul must surely convince you
that the inquiry is not one that ought to be lightly put aside. The
grace without which that holy man could say, "I am nothing," the
grace which the Lord Jesus says expressly is the great mark of being
His disciple,--such a grace as this demands the serious consideration
of every one who is in earnest about the salvation of his soul. It
should set him thinking,--"How does this affect me? Do I have love?"
You have some knowledge, it may be, of religion. You know the
difference between true and false doctrine. You can, perhaps, even
quote texts and defend the opinions you hold. But, remember the
knowledge which is barren of practical results in life and
temperament is a useless possession. The words of the Apostle are
very plain "If I fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, but have not
love, I am nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:3).
You think you have faith, perhaps. You trust you are one of God's
elect, and rest in that. But surely you should remember that there is a
faith of devils, which is utterly unprofitable, and that the faith of
God's elect is a "faith expressing itself through love." It was when
Paul remembered the "love" of the Thessalonians, as well as their
faith and hope, that he said "We know, that He has chosen you" (1
Thessalonians 1:4).
Look at your own daily life, both at home and away, and consider
what place the love of Scripture has in it. What is your temperament?
What are your ways of behaving toward all around you in your own
family? What is your manner of speaking, especially in seasons of
irritation and provocation? Where is your good-nature, your
courtesy, your patience, your meekness, your gentleness, your
toleration? Where are your practical actions of love in your dealing
with others? What do you know of the mind of Him who "went
around doing good"--who loved everyone, though especially His
disciples,--who returned good for evil, and kindness for hatred, and
had a heart wide enough to feel for everyone?
What would you do in heaven, I wonder, if you got there without
love? What comfort could you have in a home where love was the
law, and selfishness and ill-nature completely shut out? Yes! I fear
that heaven would be no place for an unloving and ill-tempered
man!--Note what a little boy said one day?" If grandfather goes to
heaven, I hope that I and my brother will not go there." "Why do you
say that?" he was asked. He replied, "If he sees us there, I am sure he
will say, as he does now,--"What are these boys doing here? Let them
get out of the way." He does not like to see us on earth, and I suppose
he would not like to see us in heaven."
Give yourself no rest till you know something by experience of real
Christian love. Go and learn of Him who is meek and lowly of heart,
and ask Him to teach you how to love. Ask the Lord Jesus to put His
Spirit within you, to take away the old heart, to give you a new
nature, to make you know something of His mind. Cry to Him night
and day for grace, and give Him no rest until you feel something of
what I have been describing in this paper. Happy indeed will your
life be when you really understand "walking in love."
(2) But I do not forget that I am writing to some who are not
ignorant of the love of Scripture, and who long to feel more of it
every year. I will give you two simple words of exhortation. They are
these,--"Practice and teach the grace of love."
Practice love diligently. It is one of those graces, above all, which
grow by constant exercise. Strive more and more to carry it into
every little detail of daily life. Watch over your own tongue and
temper throughout every hour of the day,--and especially in your
dealing with children and near relatives. Remember the character of
the excellent woman: "She speaks with wisdom, and faithful
instruction is on her tongue" (Proverbs 31:26). Remember the words
of Paul: "Do everything in love" (1 Corinthians 16:14). Love should be
seen in little things as well as in great ones. Remember, not least, the
words of Peter: "Love each other deeply;" not a love which just barely
is a flame, but a burning, shining fire, which everyone around us can
see. (1 Peter 4:8) It may cost pains and trouble to keep these things
in mind. There may be little encouragement from the example of
others. But persevere. Love like this brings its own reward.
Finally, teach love to others. Press it above all on children, if you
have any. Remind them constantly that kindness, good nature, and
good disposition are among the first evidences which Christ requires
in children. If they cannot know much, or explain doctrines, they can
understand love. A child's religion is worth very little if it only
consists in repeating texts and hymns. Useful as they are, they are
often learned without thought, remembered without feeling, said
over without consideration of their meaning, and forgotten when
childhood is gone. By all means let children be taught texts and
hymns; but let not such teaching be made everything in their
religion. Teach them to keep their tempers, to be kind to one
another, to be unselfish, good-natured, obliging, patient, gentle,
forgiving. Tell them never to forget to their dying day, if they live as
long as Methuselah, that without love the Holy Spirit says, "we are
nothing." Tell them "over all virtues to put on love, which binds them
all together in perfect unity" (Colossians 3:14).
LOVE is rightly called "the Queen of Christian graces." "The goal of
this command," says Paul, "is love" (1 Timothy 1:5). It is a grace
which all people profess to admire. It seems a plain practical thing
which everybody can understand. It is none of "those troublesome
doctrinal points" about which Christians disagree. Thousands, I
suspect, would not be ashamed to tell you that they know nothing
about justification, or regeneration, or about the work of Christ, or of
the Holy Spirit. But nobody, I believe, would like to say that he
knows nothing about love! If men possess nothing else in religion,
they always flatter themselves that they possess "love."
A few plain thoughts about love will be very useful. There are false
notions about love which need to be dispelled. There are mistakes
about it which require to be rectified. In my admiration of love I yield
to none. But I am bold to say that in many minds the whole subject
seems completely misunderstood.
I. First, Let me show, "the place the Bible gives to love."
II. Secondly, let me show, "what the love of the Bible really is."
III. Thirdly, let me show, "where true love comes from."
IV. Lastly, let me show, "why love is `the greatest' of the graces."
I ask for the sincere attention of my readers to the subject. My heart's
desire and prayer to God is that the growth of love may be promoted
in this sin-burdened world. In nothing does the fallen condition of
man show itself so strongly as in the scarcity of Christian love. There
is little faith on earth, little hope, little knowledge of Divine things.
But nothing, after all, is as scarce as real love.
I. Let me show "the place which the Bible gives to love."
I begin with this point in order to establish the immense practical
importance of my subject. I do not forget that there are many
Christians in this present day who almost refuse to look at anything
practical in Christianity. They can talk of nothing but two or three
favorite doctrines. Now I want to remind my readers that the Bible
contains much about practice as well as about doctrine, and that one
thing to which it attaches great weight is "love."
I turn to the New Testament, and ask men to observe what it says
about love. In all religious inquiries there is nothing like letting the
Scripture speak for itself. There is no surer way of finding out truth
than the old way of turning to simple Bible texts. Texts were our
Lord's weapons, both in answering Satan, and in arguing with the
Jews. Texts are the guides we must never be ashamed to refer to in
the present day--What does the Scripture say? What is written? How
do you read it?
Let us hear what Paul says to the Corinthians: "If I speak in the
tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a
resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy
and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith
that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give
all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but
have not love, I gain nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
Let us hear what Paul says to the Colossians: "And over all these
virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity"
(Colossians 3:14). Let us hear what Paul says to Timothy: "The goal
of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good
conscience and a sincere faith" (1 Timothy 1:5). Let us hear what
Peter says: "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers
over a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8). Let us hear what our Lord
Jesus Christ Himself says about that love, "A new command I give
you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one
another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you
love one another" (John 13:34-35). Above all, let us read our Lord's
account of the last judgment, and mark that the lack of love will
condemn millions, "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from
me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil
and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I
was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink" (Matthew 25:41-42).
Let us hear what Paul says to the Romans: "Let no debt remain
outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he
who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law" (Romans 13:8). Let us
hear what Paul says to the Ephesians: "Live a life of love, just as
Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and
sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:2). Let us hear what John says: "Dear
friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone
who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not
love does not know God, because God is love" (1 John 5:7-8).
I shall make no comment upon these texts. I think it better to place
them before my readers in their naked simplicity, and to let them
speak for themselves. If any one is disposed to think the subject of
this paper a matter of insignificance, I will only ask him to look at
these texts, and to think again. He that would take down "love" from
the high and holy place it occupies in the Bible, and treat it as a
matter of secondary importance, must settle his account with God's
Word. I certainly shall not waste time in arguing with him.
To my own mind the evidence of these texts appears clear, plain, and
incontrovertible. They show the immense importance of love as one
of the "things that accompany salvation." They prove that it has a
right to demand the serious attention of all who call themselves
Christians, and that those who despise the subject are only exposing
their own ignorance of Scripture.
II. Let me show secondly, "what the love of the Bible really is."
I think it of great importance to have clear views on this point. It is
precisely here that mistakes about love begin. Thousands delude
themselves with the idea that they have "love," when they don't due
from a downright ignorance of Scripture. Their love is not the love
described in the Bible.
(a) The love of the Bible does not consist in giving to the poor. It is a
common delusion to suppose that it does. Yet Paul tells us plainly
that a man may "give all he possesses to the poor" (1 Corinthians
13:3), and not have love. That a loving man will "remember the
poor," there can be no question. (Galatians 6:10) That he will do all
he can to assist them, relieve them, and lighten their burdens, I don't
for a moment deny. All I say is that this does not make up "love." It is
easy to spend a fortune in giving away money, and soup, and bread,
and blankets, and clothing, and yet to be utterly destitute of Bible love.
(b) The love of the Bible does not consist in never disapproving
anybody's conduct. Here is another very common delusion!
Thousands pride themselves on never condemning others, or saying
they are wrong, whatever they may do. They convert the precept of
our Lord, "Do not judge," into an excuse for having no unfavorable
opinion at all of anybody. They pervert His prohibition of rash and
censorious judgments into a prohibition of all judgment whatsoever.
Your neighbor may be a drunkard, a liar, a violent man. Never mind!
"It is not love," they tell you, "to pronounce him, wrong." You are to
believe that he has a good heart at the bottom! This idea of love is,
unhappily, a very common one. It is full of mischief. To throw a veil
over sin, and to refuse to call things by their right names--to talk of
"hearts" being good, when "lives" are flatly wrong--to shut our eyes
against wickedness, and excuse their immorality--this is not Scriptural love.
(c) The love of the Bible does not consist in never disapproving
anybody's religious opinions. Here is another most serious and
growing delusion. There are many who pride themselves on never
pronouncing others mistaken, whatever views they may hold. Your
neighbor, for example, may be a Roman Catholic, or a Mormon. But
the "love" of many says that you have no right to think him wrong! If
he is sincere, it is "unloving" to think unfavorably of his spiritual
condition! From such love may I ever be delivered! At this rate the
Apostles were wrong in going out to preach to the Gentiles! At this
rate there is no use in missions! At this rate we had better close our
Bibles, and shut up our churches! Everybody is right, and nobody is wrong!
Everybody is going to heaven, and nobody is going to hell!
Such love is a monstrous caricature. To say that all are equally right
in their opinions, though their opinions flatly contradict one
another--to say that all are equally on their way to heaven, though
their doctrinal sentiments are as opposite as black and right--this is
not Scriptural love. Love like this pours contempt on the Bible, and
talks as if God had not given it as a written test of truth. Love like this
confuses all our notions of heaven and would fill it with a discordant
inharmonious rabble. True love does not think everybody is right in
their doctrines. True love cries--"Do not believe every spirit, but test
the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false
prophets have gone out into the world."--"If anyone comes to you
and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or
welcome him" (2 John 1:10).
I leave the negative side of the question here. I have dwelt upon it at
some length because of the days in which we live and the strange
notions which abound. Let me now turn to the positive side. Having
shown what love is not, let me now show what it is.
Love is that "love," which Paul places first among those fruits
brought forth in the heart of a believer. "The fruit of the Spirit is
love" (Galatians 5:22). Love to God, such as Adam had before the
fall, is its first feature. He that has love, desires to love God with
heart, and soul and mind, and strength. Love to man is its second
feature. He that has love, desires to love his neighbor as himself. This
is indeed that view in which the word "love" in Scripture is more
especially regarded. When I speak of a believer having "love" in his
heart, I mean that he has love to both God and man. When I speak of
a believer having "love" I mean more particularly that be has love to
man.
The love of the Bible will show itself in a believer's actions. It will
make him ready to do kind acts to everyone within his reach--both to
their bodies and souls. It will not let him be content with soft words
and kind wishes. It will make him diligent in doing all that lies in his
power to lessen the sorrow and increase the happiness of others. Like
his Master, he will care more for ministering than for being
ministered to, and will look for nothing in return. Like his Master's
great apostle he will very willingly "spend and be spent" for others,
even though they repay him with hatred, and not with love. True love
does not want rewards. Its work is its reward.
The love of the Bible will show itself in a believer's "readiness to
bear" evil as well as to do good. It will make him patient under
provocation, forgiving when injured, meek when unjustly attacked,
quiet when slandered. It will make him bear much, put up with much
and look over much, submit often and deny himself often, all for the
sake of peace. It will make him control his temper, and check his
tongue. True love is not always asking, "What are my rights? Am I
treated as I deserve?" but, "How can I best promote peace? How can
I do that which is most edifying to others?"
The love of the Bible will show itself in the "general spirit and
demeanor" of a believer. It will make him kind, unselfish, good natured,
good-tempered, and considerate of others. It make him
gentle, friendly, and courteous, in all the daily relations of private
life, thoughtful for others' comfort, tender for others' feelings, and
more anxious to give pleasure than to receive. True love never envies
others when they prosper, nor rejoices in the calamities of others
when they are in trouble. At all times it will believe, and hope, and
try to put to good use the actions of others. And even at the worst, it
will be full of pity, mercy, and compassion.
Would we like to know where the true Pattern of love like this can be
found? We have only to look at the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, as
described in the Gospels, and we will see it perfectly exemplified.
Love radiated forth in everything He did. His daily life was an
incessant "going about" doing good.--Love radiated forth in all His
manner. He was continually hated, persecuted, slandered,
misrepresented. But He patiently endured it all. No angry word ever
fell from His lips. No ill-temper ever appeared in His demeanor.
"When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when
He suffered, He made no threats" (1 Peter 2:23). Love radiated forth
in all His spirit and deportment. The law of kindness was ever on His
lips. Among weak and ignorant disciples, among sick and sorrowful
petitioners for help and relief, among tax-gathers and sinners,
among Pharisees and Sadducees, He was always one and the same--
kind and patient to all.
And yet, let it be remembered, our blessed Master never flattered
sinners, or connived at sin. He never shrunk from exposing
wickedness in its true colors, or from rebuking those who would
cleave to it. He never hesitated to denounce false doctrine by
whomsoever it might be held, or to exhibit false practice in its true
colors and the certain end to which it tends. He called things by their
right names. He spoke as freely of hell and the fire that is not
quenched, as of heaven and the kingdom of glory. He has left on
record an everlasting proof that perfect love does not require us to
approve everybody's life or opinions, and that it is quite possible to
condemn false doctrine and wicked practice, and yet to be full of love
at the same time.
I have now set before my readers the true nature of Scriptural love. I
have given a slight and very brief account of what it is not, and what
it is. I cannot pass on without suggesting two practical thoughts,
which press home on my mind with weighty force, and I hope may
press home on others.
You have heard of love. Think, for a moment, how deplorably little
love there is upon earth! How conspicuous is the absence of true love
among Christians! I do not speak of the heathen, I now speak of
Christians. What angry tempers, what passions, what selfishness,
what bitter tongues, are to be found in private families! What strifes,
what quarrels, what spitefulness, what malice, what revenge, what
envy between neighbors and fellow Church members! What
jealousies and contentions between those of varying doctrines!
"Where is love?" we may well ask,--"Where is love? Where is the
mind of Christ?" when we look at the spirit which reigns in the world.
No wonder that Christ's cause stands still, and sin abounds, when
men's hearts know so little of love! Surely, we can say "When the Son
of Man comes, will he find love on the earth?"
Think, for another thing, what a happy world this would be if there
was more love. It is the lack of love which causes half the misery
there is upon earth. Sickness, and death, and poverty will not
account for more than half the sorrows. The rest come from ill temper,
ill-nature, strifes, quarrels, lawsuits, malice, envy, revenge,
frauds, violence, wars, and the like. It would be one great step
towards doubling the happiness of mankind, and halving their
sorrows, if all men and women were full of Scriptural love.
III. Let me show, thirdly, "where the love of the Bible comes."
Love, such as I have described, is certainly not natural to man.
Naturally, we are all more or less selfish, envious, ill-tempered,
spiteful, ill- natured, and unkind. We have only to observe children,
when left to themselves, to see the proof of this. Let boys and girls
grow up without proper training and education, and you will not see
one of them possessing Christian love. Mark how some of them think
first of themselves, and their own comfort and advantage! Mark how
others are full of pride, passion, and evil tempers! How can we
account for it? There is but one reply. The natural heart knows
nothing of true love.
The love of the Bible will never be found except in a heart prepared
by the Holy Spirit. It is a tender plant, and will never grow except in
one soil. You may as well expect grapes on thorns, or figs on thistles,
as look for love when the heart is not right.
The heart in which love grows is a heart changed, renewed, and
transformed by the Holy Spirit. The image and likeness of God,
which Adam lost at the fall, has been restored to it, however feeble
and imperfect the restoration may appear. It is to "participate in the
Divine nature" by union with Christ and Sonship to God; and one of
the first features of that nature is love. (2 Peter 1:4)
Such a heart is deeply convinced of sin, hates it, flees from it, and
fights with it from day to day. And one of the prime elements of sin
which it daily labors to overcome, is selfishness and lack of love.
Such a heart is deeply aware of its mighty debt to our Lord Jesus
Christ. It feels continually that it owes to Him who died for us on the
cross, all its present comfort, hope, and peace. How can it show forth
its gratitude? What can it render to its Redeemer? If it can do
nothing else, it strives to be like Him, to walk in His footsteps, and,
like Him, to be full of love. The fact that, "God has poured out His
love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit" is the surest fountain of
Christian love. Love will produce love.
I ask my readers special attention to this point. It is one of great
importance in the present day. There are many who profess to
admire love, while they care nothing about vital Christianity. They
like some of the fruits and results of the Gospel, but not the root from
which these fruits alone can grow, or the doctrines with which they
are inseparably connected.
Hundreds will praise love who hate to be told of man's corruption, of
the blood of Christ, and of the inward work of the Holy Spirit. Many
a parent would like his children to grow up unselfish and good
tempered, who would not be very pleased if someone pressed upon
their children the need for conversion, and repentance, and faith.
Now I desire to protest against this notion, that you can have the
fruits of Christianity without the roots--that you can produce
Christian dispositions without teaching Christian doctrines--that you
can have love that will wear and endure without grace in the heart.
I grant, most freely, that every now and then one sees a person who
seems very loving and amiable, without any distinctive doctrinal
religion. But such cases are so rare and remarkable, that, like
exceptions, they only prove the truth of the general rule. And often,
too often, it may be feared in such cases the apparent love is only
external, an in private completely fails. I firmly believe, as a general
rule, you will not find such love as the Bible describes, except in the
soil of a heart thoroughly endowed with Bible religion. Holy practice
will not flourish without sound doctrine. What God has joined
together it is useless to expect to have separate and asunder.
The delusion which I am trying to combat is helped forward to a
most mischievous decree by the vast majority of novels, romances,
and tales of fiction. Who does not know that the heroes and heroines
of these works are constantly described as patterns of perfection?
They are always doing the right thing, saying the right thing, and
showing the right disposition! They are always kind, and amiable,
and unselfish, and forgiving! And yet you never hear a word about
their religion! In short, to judge by the generality of works of fiction,
it is possible to have excellent practical religion without doctrine, the
fruits of the Spirit without the grace of the Spirit, and the mind of
Christ without union with Christ!
Here, in short, is the great danger of reading most novels, romances
and works of fiction. The greater of them give a false or incorrect
view of human nature. They paint their model men and women as
they ought to be, and not as they really are. The readers of such
writings get their minds filled with wrong conceptions of what the
world is. Their notions of mankind become visionary and unreal.
They are constantly looking for men and women such as they never
meet, and expecting what they never find.
Let me entreat my readers, once for all, to draw their ideas of human
nature from the Bible, and not from novels. Settle it down in your
mind, that there cannot be true love without a heart renewed by
grace. A certain degree of kindness, courtesy, amiability, good
nature, may undoubtedly be seen in many who have no vital religion.
But the glorious plant of Bible love, in all its fullness and perfection,
will never be found without union with Christ and the work of the
Holy Spirit. Teach this to your children, if you have any. Hold it up in
schools, if you are connected with any. Lift up love. Make much of
love. Give place to none in exalting the grace of kindness, love, good
nature, unselfishness, good temper. But never, never forget that
there is but one school in which these things can be thoroughly
learned, and that is the school of Christ. Real love comes down from
above. True love is the fruit of the Spirit. He that would have it must
sit at Christ's feet and learn of Him.
IV. Let me show, lastly, "why love is called the 'greatest' of the
graces."
The words of Paul, on this subject, are distinct and unmistakable. He
winds up his wonderful chapter on love in the following manner:
"Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of
these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13).
This expression is very remarkable. Of all the writers in the New
Testament, none, certainly, exalts "faith" as highly as Paul. The
Epistles to the Romans and Galatians abound in sentences showing
its vast importance. By it the sinner lays hold of Christ and is saved.
Through it we are justified, and have peace with God. Yet here the
same Paul speaks of something which is even greater than faith. He
puts before us the three leading Christian graces, and pronounces the
following judgment on them,--"The greatest is love." Such a sentence
from such a writer demands special attention. What are we to
understand when we hear of love being greater than faith and hope?
We are not to suppose for a moment, that love can atone for our sins,
or make our peace with God. Nothing can do that for us but the
blood of Christ, and nothing can give us an interest in Christ's blood
but faith. It is unscriptural ignorance not to know this. The office of
justifying and joining the soul to Christ belongs to faith alone. Our
love, and all our other graces, are all more or less imperfect, and
could not stand the severity of God's judgment. When we have done
all, we are "unworthy servants" (Like 17:10).
We are not to suppose that love can exist independently of faith. Paul
did not intend to set up one grace in rivalry to the other. He did not
mean that one man might have faith, another hope, and another
love, and that the best of these was the man who had love. The three
graces are inseparably joined together. Where there is faith, there
will always be love; and where there is love, there will be faith. Sun
and light, fire and heat, ice and cold, are not more intimately united
than faith and love.
The reasons why love is called the greatest of the three graces, appear
to me plain and simple. Let me show what they are.
(a) Love is called the greatest of graces because it is the one in which
there is "some likeness between the believer and his God." God has
no need of faith. He is dependent on no one. There is none superior
to Him in whom He must trust.--God has no need of hope. To Him
all things are certain, whether past, present, or to come.--But "God is
love:" and the more love His people have, the more like they are to
their Father in heaven.
(b) Love, for another thing, is called the greatest of the graces
because "it is most useful to others." Faith and hope, beyond doubt,
however precious, have special reference to a believer's own private
individual benefit. Faith unites the soul to Christ, brings peace with
God, and opens the way to heaven. Hope fills the soul with cheerful
expectation of things to come, and, amid the many discouragements
of things seen, comforts with visions of the things unseen. But love is
preeminently the grace which makes a man useful. It is the spring of
good works and kindnesses. It is the root of missions, schools, and
hospitals. Love made apostles spend and be spent for souls. Love
raises up workers for Christ and keeps them working. Love smooths
quarrels, and stops strife, and in this sense "covers over a multitude
of sins" (1 Peter 4:8). Love adorns Christianity and recommends it to
the world. A man may have real faith, and feel it, and yet his faith
may be invisible to others. But a man's love cannot be hidden.
(c) Love, in the last place, is the greatest of the graces because it is
the one which "endures the longest." In fact, it will never die. Faith
will one day be swallowed up in sight, and hope in certainty. Their
office will be useless in the morning of the resurrection, and like old
almanacs, they will be laid aside. But love will live on through the
endless ages of eternity. Heaven will be the home of love. The
inhabitants of heaven will be full of love. One common feeling will be
in all their hearts, and that will be love.
I leave this part of my subject here and pass on to a conclusion. On
each of the three points of comparison I have just named, between
love and the other graces, it would be easy to enlarge. But time and
space both forbid me to do so. If I have said enough to guard men
against mistakes about the right meaning of the "greatness" of love, I
am content. Love, be it ever remembered, cannot justify and put
away our sins. It is neither Christ, nor faith. But love makes us
somewhat like God. Love is of mighty use to the world. Love will live
and flourish when faith's work is done. Surely, in these points of
view, love well deserves the crown.
(1) And now let me ask every one into whose hands this paper may
come a simple question. Let me press home on your conscience the
whole subject of this paper. Do you know anything of the grace of
which I have been speaking? Have you love?
The strong language of the Apostle Paul must surely convince you
that the inquiry is not one that ought to be lightly put aside. The
grace without which that holy man could say, "I am nothing," the
grace which the Lord Jesus says expressly is the great mark of being
His disciple,--such a grace as this demands the serious consideration
of every one who is in earnest about the salvation of his soul. It
should set him thinking,--"How does this affect me? Do I have love?"
You have some knowledge, it may be, of religion. You know the
difference between true and false doctrine. You can, perhaps, even
quote texts and defend the opinions you hold. But, remember the
knowledge which is barren of practical results in life and
temperament is a useless possession. The words of the Apostle are
very plain "If I fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, but have not
love, I am nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:3).
You think you have faith, perhaps. You trust you are one of God's
elect, and rest in that. But surely you should remember that there is a
faith of devils, which is utterly unprofitable, and that the faith of
God's elect is a "faith expressing itself through love." It was when
Paul remembered the "love" of the Thessalonians, as well as their
faith and hope, that he said "We know, that He has chosen you" (1
Thessalonians 1:4).
Look at your own daily life, both at home and away, and consider
what place the love of Scripture has in it. What is your temperament?
What are your ways of behaving toward all around you in your own
family? What is your manner of speaking, especially in seasons of
irritation and provocation? Where is your good-nature, your
courtesy, your patience, your meekness, your gentleness, your
toleration? Where are your practical actions of love in your dealing
with others? What do you know of the mind of Him who "went
around doing good"--who loved everyone, though especially His
disciples,--who returned good for evil, and kindness for hatred, and
had a heart wide enough to feel for everyone?
What would you do in heaven, I wonder, if you got there without
love? What comfort could you have in a home where love was the
law, and selfishness and ill-nature completely shut out? Yes! I fear
that heaven would be no place for an unloving and ill-tempered
man!--Note what a little boy said one day?" If grandfather goes to
heaven, I hope that I and my brother will not go there." "Why do you
say that?" he was asked. He replied, "If he sees us there, I am sure he
will say, as he does now,--"What are these boys doing here? Let them
get out of the way." He does not like to see us on earth, and I suppose
he would not like to see us in heaven."
Give yourself no rest till you know something by experience of real
Christian love. Go and learn of Him who is meek and lowly of heart,
and ask Him to teach you how to love. Ask the Lord Jesus to put His
Spirit within you, to take away the old heart, to give you a new
nature, to make you know something of His mind. Cry to Him night
and day for grace, and give Him no rest until you feel something of
what I have been describing in this paper. Happy indeed will your
life be when you really understand "walking in love."
(2) But I do not forget that I am writing to some who are not
ignorant of the love of Scripture, and who long to feel more of it
every year. I will give you two simple words of exhortation. They are
these,--"Practice and teach the grace of love."
Practice love diligently. It is one of those graces, above all, which
grow by constant exercise. Strive more and more to carry it into
every little detail of daily life. Watch over your own tongue and
temper throughout every hour of the day,--and especially in your
dealing with children and near relatives. Remember the character of
the excellent woman: "She speaks with wisdom, and faithful
instruction is on her tongue" (Proverbs 31:26). Remember the words
of Paul: "Do everything in love" (1 Corinthians 16:14). Love should be
seen in little things as well as in great ones. Remember, not least, the
words of Peter: "Love each other deeply;" not a love which just barely
is a flame, but a burning, shining fire, which everyone around us can
see. (1 Peter 4:8) It may cost pains and trouble to keep these things
in mind. There may be little encouragement from the example of
others. But persevere. Love like this brings its own reward.
Finally, teach love to others. Press it above all on children, if you
have any. Remind them constantly that kindness, good nature, and
good disposition are among the first evidences which Christ requires
in children. If they cannot know much, or explain doctrines, they can
understand love. A child's religion is worth very little if it only
consists in repeating texts and hymns. Useful as they are, they are
often learned without thought, remembered without feeling, said
over without consideration of their meaning, and forgotten when
childhood is gone. By all means let children be taught texts and
hymns; but let not such teaching be made everything in their
religion. Teach them to keep their tempers, to be kind to one
another, to be unselfish, good-natured, obliging, patient, gentle,
forgiving. Tell them never to forget to their dying day, if they live as
long as Methuselah, that without love the Holy Spirit says, "we are
nothing." Tell them "over all virtues to put on love, which binds them
all together in perfect unity" (Colossians 3:14).