Imagine a thing that never disappoints or fails. Imagine nobility that is always truthful. Imagine the type of character that exercises perfect humility, looks only to the good of others, does not seek revenge, does not complain when it suffers wrong. Its only desire is the salvation of the souls with which it comes into contact. This character trait is worth more than gold or silver. What is it? It is love!

The apostle Paul told us that love (agape) never fails. "Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails..." (1 Corinthians 13:7,8). In the Greek, the word fail is "piptei." Thayer states that "piptei" means, "to perish; to fail, (properly, to fall from a place which one cannot keep, fall from its position):" (198). "Fail, weaken" (AG 244). "To fall off, come to naught" (LS 242). "To fall" (Vines 403).

When performance does not meet expectation, failure results. We fail ourselves; friends fail us; family members fail us; and brethren fail us. Love, however, is a perpetual trait that never fails. "Love suffers long, is kind, does not envy; neither vaunts nor acts puffed up. Love's behavior is not unseemly nor does it seek its own. Love is not provoked nor does it take account of evil. Love rejoices not in unrighteousness but it rejoices in truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things." (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) One who loves truly cares for the souls of others.

In time, the Corinthians would experience the failure of the gifts that they held dear. Prophecies, tongues, and knowledge would all fail. They would be "done away" (1 Corinthians 13:8c). Elements such as these were held in high regard by the Corinthian brethren. They eagerly pursued these gifts, especially tongue-speaking, to the point of sinning against one another. When desire outweighs expediency, turbulent waters are at bay.

God forbid that a Christian's desire for worldly praise should outweigh his love for another. Let us attach love to our character and display this most noble character in our own lives. The apostle John said, "this is love, that we should walk after his commandments." (2 John 6)

When a Christian properly understands love, he or she displays a proper understanding of God's word. This person has the very opposite of a hard heart (Ezekiel 3:7; Zechariah 7:12; Matthew 13:10-15; Romans 11:7). When Christians love, every aspect of truth takes on its proper meaning.

Discipline takes on a truthful meaning. Love is personified when a parent chastens a child (Proverbs 13:24), when God chastens Christians (Hebrews 12:4ff), and when the church disciplines erring members (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:5).

Fellowship with erroneous brethren takes on truthful meaning. When one truly loves, he confidently shames (2 Thessalonians 3:14), marks (Romans 16:17), and does not fellowship false teachers (2 John 9-11). True love exposes, rather than tolerates (Ephesians 5:11). Tolerating and compromising with sin indicates cowardly and dastardly character that is devoid of love.

Authority assumes its truthful meaning. As during the days of Zechariah, when the people of Bethel asked whether or not they should participate in a certain fast, Zechariah answered by challenging them to consult God's law (Zechariah 7:1-7). One who has love speaks only as the oracles of God and gives book, chapter, and verse for every action (1 Peter 4:11). Love causes one to ask, "what does God's word say?"

Truth takes its proper place in the hearts of those who allow love to rule their character. Their hearts diligently seek for God's truths. "Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. (2 Timothy 2:14-16) We reject the liberal-minded brother's notion that we cannot know truth. Such brethren are: "ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 3:7) because they do not love truth. The source of hatred for truth is a hard heart that is willfully blind to God's word (cf. Matthew 13:13ff). They are foolish (Ephesians 5:17). "Wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved for ever." (Jude 13)

Contention for the truth takes its proper place in hearts that are filled with love. We should not be ashamed of the gospel message (Romans 1:16). Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we not only persuade men (2 Corinthians 5:11), we also contend for our faith (Jude 3). Hearts full of love are neither fearful nor timid about giving book, chapter, and verse for the hope of the faith that lies within them. Hearts filled with love are always ready to defend the truth (1 Peter 3:15). In loving hearts, Jesus takes his proper place. We do not take offense in Jesus by rejecting his commands. Love upholds and boldly proclaims the name of Jesus. We will be "companions of all who fear God" (Psalm 119:63). To those who truly love, Jesus' commands are lovely.

Conclusion:

When Christians exercise love in their character, God's word is truly precious. We handle that word without bias. No family member, brother or sister in Christ, or anyone else gives us cause to set aside the Lord's commands. No amount of comfort, peace, or treasure causes true Christians to compromise their love or tolerate false teaching. We encourage and uphold the hands of those who hold Jesus' teachings in high esteem and shame those who do not.