Harry Potter is an international phenomenon. Six books and four movies have sold in astronomic proportions. What's the power behind R.K. Rowling's stories? According to Tom Morris, author of "If Harry Potter Ran General Electric", the real power that drives the Harry Potter stories, and, inded the human story is love.
The apostle, Paul, also wrote on this theme. And his message to the church at Corinth is so beautiful and powerful, that it has become standard reading material at weddings. Of course, I'm referring to 1 Corinthians 13.
The acquisition of power and the ambition to use it for one's gain is a real temptation in this world. Pursuing power easily becomes worshipping power, plunging the person into a state of corruption that cuts one off from all values in life. And, like all forms of idolatry, the pursuit ends up being sel-defeating and self destructive.
Such was the case in Corinth. Individuals were claiming that certain supernatural gifts gave them special status in the community. Consequently unity was being destroyed, leaving the work of the church compromised.
Paul, however, points them to the most excellent way...love. For Paul, love is absolutely necessary (13:1-3). Love has certain characteristics (13:4-7). Love represents the dimension of God that reaches from the future into the present (13:8-14).
Our tendency to include this passage of Scripture in weddings, leaves many of us viewing this passage out of context. We see love portrayed as an ideal or a motivating factor for behavior. But Paul never imagined how we moderns would use this single chapter. Paul is instructing the church how it is to behave in a very real, very instense situation. The love Paul refers to is not about sentimentality, romance or positive feelings. Instead, love is behavior.
It is the choice to act, to be committed without conditions. It's the love that Jesus came to demonstrate. It's the love the church is expected to now show the world.
For in the end, our soul's desires are met in only one thing: experiencing God's love lived out in the community of faith.
Would you like to know how to experience God's love? Click here.
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