Love - the ultimate question

I’ve always thought of it as a list.

A kind of ‘to do’ list.

The ultimate ‘to do’ list.

A variation, if you like, on ‘the ten commandments’ – another ‘to do’ list.

Let love be genuine

Hate what is evil

Hold fast to what is good

Love one another with mutual affection

Outdo one another in showing honour.

I don’t know about you, but I find ‘to do’ lists so helpful.  There are so many things to get your mind round, write them down, make a list and start ticking off each thing that needs to be done.

These are the things to work at.

When I came to this passage again this week, I saw it in a different light.

Not so much the ultimate ‘to do’ list, as the answer to the ultimate question.

Let me explain.

Jesus takes the ten commandments down to two:

Love God

Love your neighbour.

Those two commandments have one word in common.

That’s the word Jesus comes back to in his parting words to the disciples.

A new commandment I give you, that you love one another.

Be it in pastoral care, be it in care of others in need, what counts is love.

So let’s go back to this passage and see it in a new light.

That’s exactly what Paul is getting at.  Love is what it is all about.

Let love be genuine.

But that gives rise to a question.  And that’s the ultimate question Paul sets out to respond to in this passage.

What is genuine love?  How can we make sure love is genuine?

Maybe, that’s what Paul is getting at.  This is what it takes for love to  be really love, the kind of love that really is genuine …

There’s a love that pretends

And a love that’s true.

Help us to see the difference

And know that true love

Seeks the good

Honours the other

Serves the Lord

Rejoices in hope

Waits in patience

Keeps at prayer

Gives in need

Welcomes the stranger

Rejoices with those who rejoice

Weeps with those who weep

And seeks to be at peace