Extravagant Love – 1 Corinthians 13:1
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
Our good works may abound, our selfless service to family, friends, and church may astound, and the breadth of our love may be profound, but if we have hardened our hearts to even one person, we are walking in disobedience to Christ’s teaching about a radical kind of love, an extravagant love. We deceive ourselves if we think we can be right with God and demonstrate our Christianity while loving selectively, choosing whom we will love and whom we will not, for even those who hate the Lord love their own families and those who are easy to love.[1]
Let us not forfeit the joy that comes from remaining in Jesus’ love[2] by electing to love some while hardening our hearts against those who have harmed us or those whom we find unlovable. Jesus teaches us about a greater love, a love that does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not seek it own, and does not demand its rights, a love that never fails.[3] This love does not embrace the kind, faithful, lovely, entertaining, and prosperous while turning away from the harsh, traitorous, unattractive, boring, or destitute. Rather it includes all men and women, even our enemies and those who persecute us.[4] It does not show partiality, for it holds no person as less valuable for the kingdom of God than another,[5] and it does not consider what it may gain, for it regards others spiritual well-being above its own comfort.
Extravagant love; you can seek no richer treasure, attain no higher calling, and enter into no more joyous territory. Therefore, gain it by loving others as Christ has taught you to love. Love those you find most difficult to get along with, those who have mistreated and despitefully used you, and those with whom you have no common interests. Love those who have betrayed you, been unkind to you, and been demeaning to you. Love as Jesus loves, turning the other cheek,giving your coat along with your shirt, walking the extra mile.[6] Love others, and love will bring you into perfection, as your Father in heaven is perfect.[7]
Love God and others, and you will find delight in Love Himself.
I have a Christmas dream,
A pure and holy vision
It is the jewel my heart desires
The passion of my mind
The hope my fervent prayer inspires,
Its love of an extravagant kind
I dream this love would embrace my heart
And spread through all my family
So we may in the smallest part
Shine the Light that sets men free
This love was by the King defined
The love for which His Son was sent
This love is patient; this love is kind,
Not jealous, boastful, arrogant
Not rude, nor selfish, no slight provokes,
When wronged, no account it takes
Protecting, trusting, and in all things hopes,
This love endures, no one forsakes
And in my dream, we live this love,
This Christmas and forever
We live in peace, our homes joy filled
Free from anger, strife, division
For Jesus has in us instilled
This pure and holy vision
[1] Matthew 5:46
[2] John 15:9-11
[3] 1 Corinthians 13:5, 7
[4] Matthew 5:44
[5] James 2:1, 9
[6] Matthew 5:39-41
[7] Matthew 5:48
