Image via WikipediaFocus Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13)
All we need is love; at least that’s what the songwriters, poets, movie producers, and others would have us to believe. And you know what? I tend to agree with them to a certain extent. The Apostle Paul, in his first letter to the Church in Corinth also believed in the importance of love. This love about which Paul speaks can be seen in our benevolent attitudes and actions towards our fellow human beings. Not only that, the kind of love Paul preaches about grows out of sincere and fervent devotion to God. When people possess this kind of love their individual gifts take a back seat. What shines through is not the forcefulness of prophesies or the speaking in tongues or having great knowledge and wisdom. What shines through are the compassion expressed and the mercy rendered toward another person who was created in the image of God.
What is there about love that makes it so powerful to the point of being a more excellent way of life? The biblical evidence is compelling, and it is reinforced by recent scholarly studies. As we engage in the process of loving others, we continue to grow and benefit psychologically from the acts of charity we extend. This feeling has been referred to as a “helper’s high” or the “Mother Teresa effect.” In other words, charitable acts can lead to positive feelings. Some scholars have noted that an actual change in brain chemistry occurs within people after they have done something charitable. Specifically, the act of giving has been shown to produce endorphins and reduce stress hormones in a similar way that exercise does. As a fringe benefit, some studies have shown that people who are happier and less stressed tend to be more productive and more apt to succeed. Could this be a by-product of the more excellent way that Paul describes?
In addition to that, recent scholars have noted that there is healing power associated with doing good. They contend that when we care for others, we are actually caring for ourselves. These authors report that personal helping on a regular basis gives people an immediate physical sensation, including warmth, increased energy, and a sense of euphoria. Not only that when we give of ourselves, especially if we start young, other things in our lives are affected. Mortality is delayed. Depression is reduced. Well-being is increased. Additional research studies have shown that helping others can result in health benefits to those with chronic illness, including HIV, multiple sclerosis, and heart problems. These studies and others have demonstrated that when people help others on a regular basis, even in small ways, they are likely to feel happier. Is this a more excellent way?
My answer is a resounding yes! While we’re down here waiting for eternal prophesies to be fulfilled, we can use love as a unifying vision for life in God’s kingdom here on earth. Love is that unifying vision and it can be expressed through acts of charity, philanthropy, and generosity extended to persons in need of a helping hand. Such love is one of the noblest expressions of the human spirit, and it can promote goodness and generosity even in the midst of the most intolerable situations. Furthermore, as Paul demonstrated in Corinth, engaging in acts of love can help to build communities that sustain well-being and peace for all its members, no matter what their gifts. The scripture teaches us that even though our gifts may eventually diminish, love will last for ever – And now abide faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love. And it is a more excellent way.
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