If I have not Love

If I have not love.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,

but have not love,

I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal,

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge,

and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains,

but have not love,

I am nothing.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor,

and though I give my body to be burned,

but have not love,

it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind:

love does not envy, love does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely,

does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil,

does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth,

bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

But whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.  For we know in part and we

prophesy in part.  But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.  When I was a child, I spoke as a child.  I understood as a child, I

thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.  

Now I know in part,

but then I shall know just as I also am known.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; 

but the greatest of these

is love.

                                                                         1 Corinthians Chapter 13
I once had a boss who was perhaps one of the most disliked men I’ve ever met. When he died I believe in his late fifties early sixties, no one he worked with attended his funeral, he was that disliked.
For me I didn’t mind the man. He was rough around the edges. Still he did his job the way he thought was best and I can honestly say he treated me fairly. If he didn’t like my work he told me so in no uncertain terms.
Still many who worked with him considered him a man who lacked in love and compassion. Thus they shunned him.
Above I quoted from the apostle Paul. What Paul is saying in a nutshell is, we can be the best educated, the most eloquent of speech, most faithful, even the most generous person, but if we don’t have Love we are nothing.
We are remembered for our actions in life and love and hate are the two most remembered actions. Hitler is remembered for his hate. Jesus by contrast is remembered for his love and because of that Love his followers continue to grow daily around the world.
Jesus accomplished with Love what all the emperors of the world failed to do, have a following that reaches into every part of the world.
Napoleon said of Jesus,
"You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power.”
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
                                                                                                                            Napoleon  
Jesus showed all people everywhere how we are to live. When asked,
 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 
                                                                                   Matthew 22:36-40.
He also said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”  
                                                                            Matthew 5:43,44.
Martin Luther King jr. said,
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”
                                                                                            Martin Luther King, Jr.
He was correct.
So the question I have for you is: Do you show love to all people?
Do people see the love in you?
Please think about it.