...But the greatest of these is Love

When I was in primary school, we read a story about a little girl, who never liked to share her things with anybody, her friends and family inclusive.  Whenever somebody touched anything she owns, she cried out, "it's mine, its mine", while every other person gladly let her share in what they have. One day, they all got tired of her attitude and decided to teach her a lesson. They agreed not to share their belongings with her, whenever she touched anything belonging to any one of them, they told her, ‘it’s mine, don't touch it". She cried so hard that day, thankfully she learnt her lesson.

The race for survival has consumed so many that they no longer care about the effect of their actions on the people around them or the society at large. I have always believed that our actions and decisions directly or indirectly affect the people around us. This single thought influences my choice of actions. Pastor Sam Adeyemi once said, "we all live in our little bubble and until we break loose from it, we will never think of nothing but self". Selfishness is the sole reason the world is as dysfunctional as it is today. Some children of God are also caught up in this web and it is only the limitless and boundless love of God which has been shed abroad in our hearts that can break us loose from this entanglement. 

Love provokes compassion, it stirs mercy to action. Love doesn't pass by anyone without finding its purpose in that person's life. Love is the only antidote for selfishness; it subdues self. Let us learn together a key thing about love from love himself. After man disobeyed God, He could have decided to let man wallow in self destruction, He could have said, "these wretched souls, why should I concern myself with them anymore?" God could have continued to mourn man's disobedience, but he chose to put aside his hurt to heal man's self-inflicted wounds. God looked beyond his mightiness to help man back on his feet. This is simply what love is about; it looks beyond self; it sees farther than the superficial. I remember when I lived in a room with a couple of girls during my NYSC, God taught me a valuable lesson. I had two troublesome roommates. Fights with them seemed unavoidable, because I didn't want to be taken for a fool. One morning, as I walked into the devotion room, I was hit with a word "let the mind be in you which is in Christ Jesus". I knew it was a scriptural verse, but I didn't know where it was in the bible. Immediately after general devotion, I went in search of it and thanks to God I found it, Phil 2:5, but it's best to read from verse1. What was my lesson? The issue was not with the people that I believed often offended me or the people that make trouble with me; the issue was with my response. The Bible said Jesus was led like sheep to the slaughter and he uttered no word. I was taught not to focus on my hurt but on the helplessness of the other person.

Selfless love is what Paul spoke about in 1Cor 10:23-33. In verse 24&33, Paul made an important point about putting the interest of others ahead of our own. He admonished that if any of our action or choice will jeopardize another person's faith (Life), then it will be of great benefit to desist from such action. It is this kind of love that conquers wickedness and selfishness. There is a story about a certain man in the United States of America , who after having more than five kids from three different women decided to become a woman, because he thinks he is a woman trapped in a man's body. With his action, his wife lost a husband; his children lost a father; his sisters lost a brother; his parents lost a son; his nieces and nephews lost an uncle. If this man understood that Love is greater than self-cravings, he would have considered the emotional and psychological effect of his actions on his family and the people around him. He would have shut down the loud-voiced self. Selfless love teaches us that living for others is actually living for ourselves. This love defines purpose, it spurs responsibility and it directs focus.

Finally, Love is no praise singer, it tells the truth with care all the time. The Bible says, God chastises those he loves, because he wants them to live right and enjoy his best. It is a call for us to go out each day sowing the seed of love in every corner we pass by. The world will be rid of so much wickedness, if the children of God learn to walk in love, for it is only in Christ that selfless love abounds. Love finds expression in our actions towards each other and what better way to show it than loving our enemies and people not directly connected to us. It is very important to note that; Love is not foolish, it observes and acts wisely; Love is not weakness, it is strength under control; Love is not blind, it sees the wrong of others, but chooses to forgive; Love recognizes flaws, but chooses to focus on strengths. Love knows when to say 'yes' and when to say 'no'; Love understands the power of "no" when need be. Remember, everything on earth will be gone one day, grace and mercy will be gone too, but one thing that will forever remain is love. 

 Written by: Ijeoma Obi