It’s that time of year when New Year’s resolutions are made. It’s also the time of year when those same resolutions are already being broken. One of the pastors at our church made this statement on Sunday. “What if your spouse or your pastor made your New Year’s resolution for you?” We all laughed, but I thought about that a bit. As a pastor, if I could “assign” a resolution to the people that serve with me in my areas of ministry, what would I ask of them?
I’ve been thinking about this. It’s a big responsibility and a heavy weight. Therefore, I want nothing to do with it! I’m thinking to myself . . . I have enough trouble making my own resolutions (and keeping them); you’re on your own. However, I couldn’t shake this thought. If the people that serve alongside me — those that lead and volunteer and disciple people in our church every week — were asked to do one thing in the new year, what would I want it to be?
In thinking through this, I was reminded of a familiar passage that we often hear quoted at every wedding we’ve ever attended —1 Corinthians 13. But before you read that, go back to 1 Corinthians 11. There appears to have been a few arguments going on in the Corinthian church. There were discussions of women and men. Short hair and long hair. Heads covered and uncovered. Discussions about divisions. Divisions regarding the Lord’s Supper. Discussion of how some were selfish serving themselves rather than serving others while partaking. The discussion continues in Chapter 12 as some must have thought that their gift was better than another’s. Paul tries to explain that we’re all equal. All important.
We read this and jump right into the love chapter. As Western Americans who are accustomed to everything being in chapters, episodes, blog posts, and tweets, we end one thought, press delete, and start the next one. However, 1 Corinthians was one, very long letter. It was never meant to be broken into choppy little segments to keep our daily Bible reading plans to 15 minutes.
Back to Chapter 12 verse 31b . . . on the heels of all this discussion about selfishness and positioning, Paul makes one simple statement: “But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all (NLT).” All these discussions about spiritual gifts. All these arguments about who is better. Let’s refocus the discussion. Let me show you a much better way to lead. Let me show you “a way of life that is best of all.” Queue Chapter 13.
[13:1] If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. [2] If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. [3] If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. [4] Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud [5] or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. [6] It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. [7] Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
NOW, insert your name in this passage and READ IT ALOUD.
[13:1] If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. [2] If [Jon] had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. [3] If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. [4] [Jon] is patient and kind. [Jon] is not jealous or boastful or proud [5] or rude. [He/she] does not demand [his/her] own way. [Jon] is not irritable, and [Jon] keeps no record of being wronged. [6] [Jon] does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. [7] [Jon] never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Wait a minute. I can honestly say that I am often jealous and boastful. I’m not always patient and kind. I’m often irritable. And the line about not keeping a record of wrongs . . .
Praying and speaking this scripture out loud is significant. Our words have prophetic power over our lives. I want my life to be described like this passage. I want Jon to be known for never giving up . .. never losing faith. I want to be hopeful and endure through every circumstance. I want to be patient. Kind. Not jealous. Not rude.
This is my prayer and resolution for myself and those that serve with me . . .
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