Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Hello, dear ones.

Becki and I knocked out a jog. Nice cool morning. Now she’s scrambling to prepare for her Bible Study session in Woodburn

I need to scramble too…fold up the sawmill and run off to a site to zip up a few big logs. I expect there to be some sign-related work in the course of the day as well.

Have fun…and keep a good grip on your priorities.

Love, Dad/Ray.

When Paul states that “the greatest of these is love,”he’s not just dropping on us his own opinion—he is simply echoing the clear words of Jesus and the overarching theme of the entire Bible. Let’s take a moment to link that word “greatest” with how it appears in the encounter Jesus had in Matthew 22: “One of them, an expert in the law (Note: An expert in the law is not above the Author of the law.), tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:35-40). So it’s true—what Paul says is the greatest really is the greatest. And “greatest” can only mean “most important,” or “above all else”—like, don’t leave home without it!—like don’t do anything without it!

In order to offer practical meaning to this duo of love commands, may I suggest applying a familiar synonym?—A HEART AFTER GOD. In my own line of reasoning, that fits very well. And in order to have you test-fly the idea, allow me to site the first 3 verses of this chapter using that phrase in exchange for the word “love.” “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not A HEART AFTER GOD, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not A HEART AFTER GOD, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not A HEART AFTER GOD, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

That last phrase sure hits me—“I gain nothing.” I can’t imagine anything much more depressing than to live and live, plan and plan, work and work, try and try—and still “I gain nothing!” Now try on the encouraging counterpart to “nothing”—“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3). I’ll take EVERYTHING over NOTHING any day!