Houston Devotional//The True Essence of Love: Insights from 1 Corinthians 13

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13, ESV

February is often associated with Valentine’s Day. Over the centuries, various traditions, legends, and cultural practices have established February as the month of love. Common expressions of love include flowers, candy, cards, jewelry, and memorable outings. According to the National Retail Federation, United States consumers spent about $25.8 billion on Valentine’s Day in 2024. While there’s nothing wrong with giving gifts, the commercial nature of Valentine’s Day can be surprising.

In his book The Five Love Languages Gary Chapman identifies five primary ways people express and receive love: quality time, physical touch, acts of service, gifts, and words of affirmation. Many people feel especially loved when they receive gifts or words of affirmation; sometimes gifts, a visible expression of love, are seen as the most crucial indicators of love. However, it’s essential to consider whether gifts are truly the highest expression of love. 

In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church, he addresses multiple ethical, doctrinal, and practical issues, including divisions, unity, immorality, and the use of spiritual gifts. These problems pervaded the early church and remain relevant today.

It’s not coincidental that Paul tucks 1 Corinthians 13, “the love chapter,” between two chapters (12 and 14) devoted to much of Paul’s writing on spiritual gifts and their appropriate use within the church. Throughout his letter, Paul presents evidence that Corinthian believers lacked the greatest virtue—loving others.

Chapter 13 provides a profound description of biblical love. In just thirteen verses, Paul outlines the characteristics of love that should guide all actions and attitudes. This type of agape love proves selfless, unconditional, and enduring. It reflects God’s love for humanity as demonstrated by Jesus Christ. This love lives inside every believer through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and longs to overflow toward God and others. Rather than hindering that overflow, believers ought to marvel at the wondrous love poured out for them at Calvary and then bathe others in the selfless and enduring love they encounter in Christ. 

What insights can we gain from Paul’s description of love’s essence in 1 Corinthians 13?

  1. The Necessity of Love: Paul states that any spiritual gift or action no matter how impressive remains meaningless without love (vv. 1–3).
  2. The Nature of Love: Paul describes what love is and what love is not [patient, kind, not envious or boastful, etc. (vv. 4–7)]. This passage is one of the most beloved passages in the Bible. It is frequently read at weddings and other ceremonies to highlight the qualities of true, unconditional, and selfless love.
  3. The Permanence of Love: Paul contrasts love with spiritual gifts like prophecy and knowledge. Those gifts will pass away, but love is eternal (vv. 8–13). 

Children have a unique and heartwarming way of describing the application of love. They often perceive love as care, affection, and selfless acts. They see love in the small, everyday gestures that make people feel valued and cherished. In a random Google search, these anonymous expressions from children help us understand unconditional love. 

One child said, “Love is when my grandmother got arthritis, and my grandfather painted her toenails even when his hands got arthritis too.”

Another child mentioned, “When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know your name is safe in their mouth.”

A child shared, “During my piano recital, I was scared. I looked at my daddy; he was the only one waving and smiling. I wasn’t scared anymore.”

One child noted, “If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend you hate.”

Read 1 Corinthians 13 in its entirety. Remember, the essence of biblical love is not just actions but the attitudes and the motivations behind those actions. It is about genuine care and concern for others, reflecting God’s love in all our relationships.

Talulah Ruger, RN, MSN (MACE, 2006), is a retired oncology nurse, Bible teacher, speaker, and writer. Talulah, the president and founder of Talulah Ruger Ministries, utilizes her extensive experience in vocational church ministry, combined with her teaching and speaking, to inspire and motivate others who are 50 and older to leverage their faith and life stories to mentor others for Christ. She teaches and trains women to use their gifts in ministry and develop meaningful relationships through spiritual mentoring. She also serves as an instructor at the Opened Bible Academy in Houston.