Works without Love
(1 Cor. 13:1~8)

Today, our society is gradually becoming cold and heartless. Compared to back in the old days, we are living a life of abundance where there are skyscrapers reaching for the sky, cars completely packed on roads, and plentiful food on dining tables. However, for some reason, love is gradually withering away. The Bible says, “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 posses to the poor and surrender my boy to the flames, but have not love. I gain nothing.” (1 Cor. 13:1~3) Even though we work, there are no benefits if there is no love.

1. Look with the love scale
1) We easily criticize others. Jesus said, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” (Luke 6:41~42)
2) We must look to our neighbors through the sufferings of Jesus’ cross. (Mark 10:43~45)

2. Apply the principle of visualization to love
1) The principle of visualization can be applied to love. If we always read, meditate on, and look to the word of God about love, we become people of love. (1 Cor. 13:4~7)
2) When we were powerless, sinners, and God’s enemies, God loved us. His love changes our thoughts, spoken words, and actions. (Rom. 5:6~10)

3. Forgive and love
1) God’s love accompanies forgiveness. Because God loved and forgave us, we need to live a life that forgives and loves each other. (John 8:3~7)
2) When we look at statues of various religious founders, they look aloof from pain in this world. However, Jesus is fundamentally different from them. Despite the fact that Jesus is the Son of God, He died on the cross by severely beaten and receiving extreme punishment. (Phil. 2:6~8)

4. Love is about giving
1) You cannot love just with spoken words. Love always accompanies work. (1 Thess. 1:3)
2) Love willingly gives everything. In order to get Rachel, Jacob worked at his uncle’s house for seven years. But, they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. (Gen. 29:20)

Conclusion
The Bible states, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Cor. 13:13) Every word without love is a clanging cymbal. We need to make sure that the symphony of love resonates in this society by practicing love.