The Gift of Love

The Gift of Love UMH (#408)

 

Though I may speak with bravest fire,

and have the gift to all inspire,

and have not love, my words are vain,

as sounding brass, and hopeless gain.

 

Though I may give all I possess,

and striving so my love profess,

but not be given by love within,

the profit soon turns strangely thin.

 

Come, Spirit, come, our hearts control,

our spirits long to be made whole.

Let inward love guide every deed;

by this we worship, and are freed.

 

            This hymn is among my favorites. Its gentle melodic waves ease the truth of its words into our hearts as it succinctly reminds us of our primary calling as disciples of Jesus. The phrases harken to the Apostle Paul’s writing in 1 Corinthians 13, sometimes called “the love chapter.”

 

            Recently, the Spirit profoundly awakened me after I had gradually given in to the temptation of angst and ire in a certain situation. I remembered that Jesus said, “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.” (Matthew 5:22) I thought, “Lord, how do I stop this evil attitude in me?” Again, I heard the words of Jesus: “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.” (Matthew 5:29) The Spirit’s direction was clear. I must surrender my need for justice to the Lord and then do whatever I could to avoid sinning. I did so and now I am gradually experiencing peace with the situation.

 

            Note that I said, “peace with the situation.” The injustice and poor behavior of the one who offends me is unchanged. But grace informs me that I cannot know the condition of his/her soul or his/her standing with the Lord. The one who torments me is a brother/sister in Christ, though he/she is culturally different in religious orientation. Therefore, Jesus’ words about anger towards a brother or sister were needed to set me right. After all, who can I hope to change, but myself?

 

            In the hymn, “The Gift of Love” I am reminded that all the good I do, is meaningless without love. It is easy to love those who love us, but the gift of love is most evident when I can welcome grace for those who offend me into my heart. It is not easy, but it is the only cure for angst and ire toward others. When we forgive someone, it is like canceling a debt that we have held against them, often without them knowing or believing they owe us anything. When our thoughts return to their offenses against us, grace reveals a zero-balance in their account, and we move on. It sounds improbable, but it really can happen if we invite the Spirit to come alongside us and lead us in the way we should go.

 

I wish you peace and joy.