Paul on love

[spencer2]

I dont know what scripture it is but Paul makes the statement “if I give all my money to the poor but have not love than I am nothing”. Wouldn’t giving our money to the poor be an act of love?

 

[jcrichton]

I dont know what scripture it is but Paul makes the statement “if I give all my money to the poor but have not love than I am nothing”. Wouldn’t giving our money to the poor be an act of love?

Here’s the passage:

1 Though I command languages both human and angelic – if I speak without love, I am no more than a gong booming or a cymbal clashing. 2 And though I have the power of prophecy, to penetrate all mysteries and knowledge, and though I have all the faith necessary to move mountains – if I am without love, I am nothing. 3 Though I should give away to the poor all that I possess, and even give up my body to be burned – if I am without love, it will do me no good whatever. 4 Love is always patient and kind; love is never jealous; love is not boastful or conceited, 5 it is never rude and never seeks its own advantage, it does not take offence or store up grievances. 6 Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but finds its joy in the truth. 7 It is always ready to make allowances, to trust, to hope and to endure whatever comes. 8 Love never comes to an end. But if there are prophecies, they will be done away with; if tongues, they will fall silent; and if knowledge, it will be done away with. 9 For we know only imperfectly, and we prophesy imperfectly; 10 but once perfection comes, all imperfect things will be done away with. 11 When I was a child, I used to talk like a child, and see things as a child does, and think like a child; but now that I have become an adult, I have finished with all childish ways. 12 Now we see only reflections in a mirror, mere riddles, but then we shall be seeing face to face. Now I can know only imperfectly; but then I shall know just as fully as I am myself known. 13 As it is, these remain: faith, hope and love, the three of them; and the greatest of them is love. (1 Corinthias 13:1-13)

St. Paul is making emphasis on the obligations of the Faith; Christians cannot simply go through the motions… if we do not Love God above all and our neighbors as ourselves… we gain nothing and we are nothing for God is Love and we are but an extension of God’s Love… check Jesus Teachings on two specific events (Mk 12:41-44; Lk 18:9-14) and St. John’s Epistles (1 Jn 3:11-18; 1 Jn 4:7-21).

…it is not just giving or doing something for others… it is how and why we do it!

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[ThinkTwice]

What is love?

It is not emotions or being emotional.(My experience)
But dedication to Gods principles. My opinion but I think we are still learning what Love is.

 

[in_servitude]

What is love?

It is not emotions or being emotional.(My experience)
But dedication to Gods principles. My opinion but I think we are still learning what Love is.

I agree with ThinkTwice on this one.

The love discussed by Paul is mostly an “action verb.” Love “does” X, love “doesn’t do” Y.

One generally cannot be commanded to experience an emotion. My mom would tell me at times, “you’re not hungry.” OOfff - that was not cool.

The OP talks about “an act of love” - action.

If one “gives all their money”, but doesn’t follow the teaching of Paul, then they would possibly run around boasting of their own greatness. Thus, their gift comes to nothing because they are not doing what Christ commanded - to love. “They have received their reward.”

I can be internally angry at a person, but still DO the command that Christ commands - to love that person.

The passage referenced here - I keep a copy of that in my wallet. When I’m having a difficult time DOING the actions consistent with the teaching, I pull that paper out and read it. Month after month - I am actually starting to FEEL differently towards others. At work, it can be very hard. I have a copy hanging on the wall in my office.

 

[JRKH]

I dont know what scripture it is but Paul makes the statement “if I give all my money to the poor but have not love than I am nothing”. Wouldn’t giving our money to the poor be an act of love?

I would agree that it is difficult to see how one would not be connected to the other in the vast majority of cases, but we must remember that Paul is making a point here and using this somewhat odd example to do so. He is expressing that Love must be at the very core of what we do and in everything that we do.

As to where such giving would not be attached to love…There could be the person who seeks only to use his money to his own best advantage…and gives to “charity” only to the extent that it provides some tax break or “publicity” (like in Mt 6:1-2).
Such a person is not giving at all but rather “manipulating” his finances and/or public opinion, not for the benefit of the poor or out of Love for his fellow, but out of purely selfish motives.
Another example might be a politician who promises to “give”, to “help” the poor, - not from his own pocket or at his own expense, but from the public purse and in the hope of gaining sufficient votes to gain or retain office…Again, “Love” does not factor into such an equation…
(Caveat - this is a hypothetical and is not intended to “trash” anyone)

Peace
James

 

[jcrichton]

What is love?

It is not emotions or being emotional.(My experience)
But dedication to Gods principles. My opinion but I think we are still learning what Love is.

…check vv 4-8 on my previous post… Christ summed it up with this:

12 This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you. 13 No one can have greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends, if you do what I command you. (St. John 15:12-14)

Love is God-centered and concerned with serving the others rather than self!

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[jcrichton]

I agree with ThinkTwice on this one.

The love discussed by Paul is mostly an “action verb.” Love “does” X, love “doesn’t do” Y.

One generally cannot be commanded to experience an emotion. My mom would tell me at times, “you’re not hungry.” OOfff - that was not cool.

The OP talks about “an act of love” - action.

If one “gives all their money”, but doesn’t follow the teaching of Paul, then they would possibly run around boasting of their own greatness. Thus, their gift comes to nothing because they are not doing what Christ commanded - to love. “They have received their reward.”

I can be internally angry at a person, but still DO the command that Christ commands - to love that person.

The passage referenced here - I keep a copy of that in my wallet. When I’m having a difficult time DOING the actions consistent with the teaching, I pull that paper out and read it. Month after month - I am actually starting to FEEL differently towards others. At work, it can be very hard. I have a copy hanging on the wall in my office.

…but Love would also compel you to give up that anger… Love is the filter of our hearts, minds, and emotions… as it was once coined… we must learn to let go, and Let God!

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[mercytruth]

I dont know what scripture it is but Paul makes the statement “if I give all my money to the poor but have not love than I am nothing”. Wouldn’t giving our money to the poor be an act of love?

It would seem that the apostle Paul is not speaking of human love, but of the divine love of God that is to dwell in our hearts. If we do not have this divine love in our hearts, everything we do, or speak will fall short. Paul goes on to explain how we can know if we have the divine love of God in our hearts by describing what it is, and what it is not:

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

An examination of conscience according to the above description will tell us if we have the divine love of God abiding in our hearts.

There seems to be a correlation between this description of the divine love of God and the nine virtues of the Holy Spirit:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Thus, we ought to pray that this divine love of God, or the fruit of the Holy Spirit truly abides in all of us, knowing that the sinful attitudes of our hearts will hinder the divine love of God from abiding in our hearts…