Article March 11, 1905 Issue

Love

LLOYD B. COATE.

The beloved disciple, John, says, "God is love," and Paul's definition of Love is thus rendered in the Twentieth Century New Testament,—"Love is long-suffering and kind. Love is never envious, never boastful, never conceited, never behaves unbecomingly. She is not self-seeking, not easily provoked, nor does she reckon up her wrongs. She has no sympathy with deceit, but has full sympathy with truth. She is proof against all things, always trustful, always hopeful, always patient. Love never dies."

In his letter to the Corinthians Paul lays great stress upon the fact that, if the motive is not pure, if it is not an expression of love, all our efforts are vain. It is not what we give or say, but the motive back of it, which is determinative. Thus Jesus declared that one poor woman who gave but a mite contributed more than all others.

Paul's definition of Love answers a momentous question; viz., How may we know when we are worshiping God? As we tread meekly in the path of humility, never envious, never boastful, never conceited, never behaving unbecomingly, then are we proving that our God is divine Love. Such a life lived is the best sermon that can be given to the world; the winds and waves of error beat in vain against it, for it is founded upon the rock, Christ. To illustrate the folly of self-seeking, Jesus once told his disciples not to take the uppermost seats, in the event of their being bidden to a feast, lest one more honorable should come, and they be requested to take lower seats. Self-seeking and self-righteousness are kindred errors, and when overcome in our lives we may know that we are approaching the divine Life; when we are no longer easily provoked and do not give way to temper and passion, then are we proving that God is Love; when we no longer harbor spite and revenge, then are we in possession of the Mind which was manifest in Christ Jesus. Love does not take offence. If pure motives are misjudged, love never reckons up her wrongs. Again, Love "has no sympathy with deceit, but has full sympathy with truth." When we no longer deceive others, misrepresent our affairs, or magnify the faults of others, then are we worshiping God "in spirit and in truth," says Jesus.

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