Love Never Fails
by Robert P. Wahler

Hollywood would have you believe that love is something totally carnal. Today people seek instant gratification. There is no depth to their commitment to God or to their family. People know only how to get, not realizing that you
get by giving. There is a contemporary gospel song entitled “Back to the Basics” It goes: “We need to get back to the basics of life. A heart that is pure, and a LOVE that is blind. A faith that is fervently grounded in Christ.

A hope that endures for all time. These are the basics, we need to get back to the basics of life.”

People today are extremely fickle. Leaders are reviled for taking a stand. The fickle public wants there itching ears scratched. So the result is we elect leaders that will put there finger to the air to see which way the winds of public opinion are blowing and go with them. I believe this stems
from the shallowness of people. The basics of life are abandoned. Loyalty, commitment, sacrifice, are displayed only when that individual stands to benefit by it. What about if these things are just the right thing to do? No,
they say that’s to altruistic, we must put self first.

The deterioration of living the basics is having its effect in the
Church. Respect for the House Of God and the Pulpit are at a low point. This is related to the perversion of peoples concept of what the basics are. Take love for example. What is being promoted by the world is diametrically opposed
to what love is as per the Bible. Love isn’t what we see on bill boards or what is put on T.V. or found in today’s music. That has to do with lust not love. If you LOVE God, and LOVE His Church, and LOVE the man of God, the true basics of life show up more freely. Commitment, loyalty, selflessness, a willing heart and mind etc. are more readily found. People are so dysfunctional where love is concerned that they really don’t love anything.

They only know how to pursue there own selfish ambitions associated with fleshly lust. Driven by pride they seek to be the best, not by the scriptural principle found in: Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; (KJV) They pray to be powerful not to be
submitted to His perfect will.

They boast of great things not giving God the glory for every step they take.

Without me you can do nothing Jesus said. I maintain that it stems from the lack of LOVE or the ability to LOVE by many.

The Bible gives a very clear cut definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. It Reads: 1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

2 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 love, I am nothing.

3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it
keeps no record of wrongs.

6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,

10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.

11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (NIV)

Note the words in bold print. Love is patient not hasty or quick to judge. Love is kind not cynical or critical or sharp tongued.

It does not envy which means it would rejoice at the accomplishments of others. Love is not rude but waits it’s turn (Is sensitive to the Spirit). Love is not self seeking. But committed to the cause, team oriented, loyal to leadership..
…. Love doesn’t become angry for trivial things and if angry on IMPORTANT
things shouldn’t have the sun go down on it. Love forgives and forgets. Love isn’t into doing evil but and is joyous at the truth. Love protects the hearts of others as well as self. It protects the reputation of others by NOT spreading discord or gossip. Love trusts giving the benefit of the doubt. Love always hopes it doesn’t know defeat and finally LOVE DOESN’T FAIL, people do fail but love doesn’t.

Let me sum it up by saying regardless of the pressure and perversion of our world, let’s get back to the Christian basic of Biblical LOVE.