Love always perseveres
1 Corinthians 13 v7
Endurance is a hallmark of the Christian faith. Paul encapsulates it in his recurring use of the race metaphor in the New Testament. Christianity is not now, nor has it ever been, about the short game.
Yet the influence of the world’s relationship with this idea should not be underestimated. Physically we’ve never been in an age where people have pushed their endurance further. Running further, climbing higher, diving deeper. Yet relationally we’ve never been in an age where our commitment to endurance and perseverance has been so minimized. The perceived value of it dwarfed by the need for instant feedback.
The reasons for this if we are human must be readily apparent, perseverance costs immediately and rewards indeterminably at a time as yet unprescribed.
And the cost versus benefit in an equation like this is difficult enough when there is only one variable to control. For example, if I desire to get fit, the weight of that outcome rests almost exclusively on me. If I do the work, the results (although they will vary) will most likely follow. And in the interest of honesty, for a lot of us, even that simple equation is more than we would like to invest time and energy into. But when we calculate it against relationships where we are no longer the only variable? What happens if we do our part to make a relationship work but the other person does not? Or vice versa. So many variables, so much opportunity for our effort to go unrewarded or awry.
This becomes problematic if we require elements of this equation to be fixed. It breaks down only because of our demands on it. First and foremost we require outcome. If I invest time and energy, emotional commitment, I expect a result. I require it in writing, in blood if you’re serious. Second, not only do we require an outcome, we require that outcome to be pre-ordained by us, prescribed, pre-vetted. Third, like any good project we want it on time and under budget. Shortest possible timeframe, minimum possible effort.
But here’s the rub
Love is not driven by outcome.
Love is not run on a timeline.
This is God’s equation.
Like our Heavenly Father from whom it flows, it is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. I have mentioned this before but it bears repeating, love does not require an outcome to have value, it carries its own inate value. Nor is it finite in supply. It is limitless and it is its own reward. If we can reset our understanding to this paradigm then we come to a place where we recognize the value of persistence. We can afford to go on loving when others do not because the well of love that we have to draw from is infinite. We can afford to go on loving the seemingly unlovable because to do so is its own fulfilment. It’s part of who we were designed to be. If you have have ever pondered your “true calling” then perhaps this is the perfect place to start. Start loving and just don’t stop. Isn’t that what we would have others do for us? Continue to love us through our highs and our lows, in our beauty and our ugliness? Isn’t that true love, church? Isn’t that who we should be? A love that continues on regardless of all that goes on around it.
I’m praying and believing church, that as every day goes by we find new ways to make this our reality.
All my love
Stephen Hickson