I’ve been chewing on this scripture this morning.
If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:3 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1co.13.3.NLT
This scripture shines a light into our inner motives. Do I do the good things and help others out of genuine love or are there other hidden motives behind them. Do I serve the poor because I love them or is it because I FEEL good doing it? Do I sacrifice to boast about it later or is it an expression of true humility and love? Does my sacrifice make me feel self righteous, causing me to forget that it is God’s grace that saves me and not my good works? God tells us that we can serve and sacrifice (express love) without love and such love does no good.
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1co.13.4-8.NLT
Gosh I’ve failed so many times in so many ways but praise God for His grace and love that refuses to give up on me!