Loveless faith is useless faith

 

Faith with love has power, yet it is also costly. In the past three days, saying yes to love and acting in faith has me so tired that I’m struggling to keep my eyes open. The activities done in love are delightful and rewarding, but the fatigue has me weak.

MacArthur encourages me with, “The gift of faith is the ability to believe that God will act according to His will, no matter the circumstances. People with that gift are prayer warriors and tend to stand as rocks when others around them are falling apart. They see God’s power and purposes at work, and they trust Him even when others doubt.”

This has been my experience the past few weeks. Love comes with a price tag but it is vital for all Christians.

And if I have  . . . all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:2)

Jesus used this figure of speech a few times. When the disciples failed to heal someone and asked Him about it, He said: “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20) He later repeated it:

Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith. (Matthew 21:21–22)

We use this figure of speech today too. This week, I’ve said that planning a family reunion seems like moving mountains. It is not literal but still means overcoming  great obstacles. In the NT, Jesus used it to describe those with faith who can ask the impossible and believe God will answer.

But the NT also says that even if I have such faith, if I don’t have love, I am nothing. This points to faith in action and happens because of the One I am trusting. I’ve heard the word ‘faith’ used for something that sounded more like presumption. Some use it as if ‘this is what I want and I know God will do it for me’ rather than being assured of God’s will in the matter. In the NT, the Corinthians’ motives were evident in their selfish pursuit of the showy gifts, not considering the importance of loving others.

What motivates me? Do I want the mountain moved to make my  life easier or more comfortable or for my glory? Am I praying out of compassion for someone who is suffering? Do I pray to show off my faith rather than to seek God’s glory? Do I remember that love includes humility, obedience, and sacrifice? And that without love it doesn’t matter what gifts I have, how eloquent my speech might be, or what I know, or believe? Love rises above all selfishness or self-centered reasons for praying.

PRAY: Jesus, I’m exhausted. Do I feel so tired because the enemy wants me to stop praying? You have been gracious to hear and answer, to bless those I pray for and to be praised for Your love and mercy. Now I ask for the energy and determination to keep trusting You and to keep praying. Thank You.

PONDER: Mark 14:32-42 and Luke 22:39-46 noting what Jesus says about the fatigue His disciples experienced. Compare that to 1 Peter 4:7-11 and the will of God concerning prayer and actions of love.

 

 

God’s love is not blind nor ignorant

 

Our new refugee friends love Jesus. Their love for Him is obvious in their love for people. Each one is quick to notice needs and help where they can. Their example plus verses about love and knowledge show how love works through knowing needs. This knowledge is revealed by God just as love is given by God.

The knowledge of God’s will is not the same as gathering information in research. It is more like that quiet voice that says, “Give her $100” or “Take Mary a loaf of bread” or any other action that demonstrates the love of God in practical ways. This prayer links love with knowledge:

. . . we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God . . . . (Colossians 1:9–12)

Love is motivated by knowledge or discernment from God, but knowing a whole lot of information is useless without love. What He shows me must produce love for others:

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9–11)

And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge . . .  but have not love, I am nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:2)

The NT connects revealed truth to love. It uses the word “mystery” to speak of what God reveals in the truths of redemption. For instance,

For I want you to know . . . . (so) hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:1–3)

Prior to that, Colossians 1:26-27 says the mystery hidden for ages and generations is “now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” We need a revelation from God to know spiritual mysteries and truths.

The mystery was made known to me by revelation . . . . When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are . . . . partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God . . . so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 3:1–10)

Knowledge can refer to collecting information, but if this is all it does, it is useless without love. “We know that ‘all of us possess knowledge.’ This ‘knowledge’ puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.” (1 Corinthians 8:1–3)

The knowledge that results in love is illustrated by the devotional author considering “a choice between going to a Bible class or helping a neighbor with some immediate need.” He says the better choice is to help your neighbor because we will have other opportunities to learn the Word, but it might be some time before having a chance to show Christian love to a neighbor. However, the story of Mary and Martha says the other choice might be the best one (see Luke 10:38-42). Knowing His will and responding in love to Him and to others means having a listening and discerning heart.

PRAY: Jesus, I need to hear from You often and discern Your will in each case. Go or stay? Speak or be silent? Talk or listen? Give me what I need to know that I may love like You want me to love.

PONDER: Today will be filled with options. Think of ways to show love to others based on the knowledge God reveals to me.