1 Corinthians 13 -- The Love Chapter In MINISTRY

Today, I hear Paul telling about ministry without love and spirituality without love.  In youth ministry, I’ve so often heard it said, “They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”  And that fits right in with what Paul’s saying, since he’s talking to the congregation of the church at Corinth about ministry.

We as Christians are all supposed to be in ministry.  We are to focus on the lost and hurting of this world, and just as a hurt puppy will snap in self-defense at anyone he fears may cause him additional pain, those hurting in this world naturally raise their own self-defenses.  Love is God’s way of breaking through those defenses.

That’s were patience and kindness are most important.  Within the one ministering, jealousy, bragging, and pride take our eyes off the Master as we struggle to instead see ourselves.  As we react to the hurting, the lost, and the lonely, they will easily be put off by rudeness and selfishness, and they’ll even attempt to upset us so that we will give a little of that back, allowing them an excuse to pull away yet again.

Where evil attempts to hide the truth, we have to diligently persevere so that the truth will not remain hidden, and if backlashes do occur, we’ve got to patiently expect and accept them knowing that healing can be a start-and-stop process.  No matter what happens, our byword has to be:  “I trust You, God!”  That trust will give us the hope we need to keep going when we feel like quitting.

So many times, I think Satan tempts us by playing the “me” card, wanting us to refocus on self and take our eyes off of the ones God is sending our way.  But those are childish reactions.  As we grow spiritually, those are the kinds of things we should put off as we put on Christ in our daily lives.

“When I became a man …” in verse 11 implies that I have indeed matured, particularly spiritually.  And a man doesn’t act like a child.  Satan would have us believe that we are still not men, because that gives us an excuse for childish reactions.

Father, there is such wisdom in Your words today!  They help me to position myself to do a better job of both helping others and representing You.  Keep me from the temptations of childish reactions, and allow me to show Your love in everything I do.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford