06/20/2024
When it's time for you to act, move, or do something, you probably just do it without hesitation. This instinctual behavior makes sense considering how busy our lives are. Many actions become second nature, like brushing our teeth or eating a meal—we perform them without thinking. When you first moved to a new house, you paid close attention to every turn it took to get home. After driving the route numerous times, you can navigate it effortlessly, perhaps even while talking on the phone (hands-free of course) or engaging in conversation. If you're a multi-tasker, you know exactly what I mean.
However, scripture encourages us to be conscious and aware of our actions. The New International Version says, "Do everything in love," suggesting that our actions should be motivated by love. If love drives our actions, then our actions must be intentional. This idea challenges the common belief that we shouldn't do anything without expecting something in return. This verse tells us to act purely out of love.
We all have motives, and often, only we know what they are. For instance, when a waiter brings you an extra drink on the house, you might think they're generous, but their motive might be to get a better tip! Similarly, a TV show ends on a cliffhanger to ensure you tune in next season.
Motives aren't always bad. They can help us achieve our goals. If we’re motivated to be healthy, we’ll eat well and exercise. If we want to be wealthy, we’ll work diligently and apply discipline to build wealth. Our motives drive us to achieve our goals.
God wants our motive to be love. The word "charity" in the Oxford dictionary is defined as an organization set up to provide help and raise money for those in need, or the voluntary giving of help, typically in the form of money, to those in need. In Greek, the word for charity is "agape," meaning affection, goodwill, love, benevolence, and brotherly love. Charity is love!
This scripture comes from a letter written by Paul to the Corinthian church. In this letter, Paul addresses various issues the church faces and offers practical advice and guidance. He emphasizes the importance of charity or love, as highlighted in 1 Corinthians 13, which he describes as the foundation of God's Kingdom.
Let our actions be driven by love, making them intentional and meaningful.
❤️ Where can you move in love today?
