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T h e
K i n g ’ s
December 1929
B u s I N E S S
Unfailing Love 1 Cor. 13:13 B y G. B. M. C louser
«SO FTER defining the various gifts through which the Jmâ body of Christ is to be built into a spiritual tem- cMM pie, the apostle reveals a higher plane of human f ls P i l conduct, and points out a more excellent way for JiLJjnÈeai the Christian to walk in—a way in which the comparison of gifts would awaken no envy, and where the thousand and one commandments would find fulfillment in one sublime word—love. Without this essential element of life ,. the tongue, though eloquent as an angel’s, would be as sounding brass and tinkling cymbal. The possession of all knowledge would add nothing to moral worth, and the exercise of great faith would fail of reward. Giving one’s person and goods would not secure credit in heaven. Paul proves love to be the supreme good—the one thing to be sought for as for hid treasure, and purchased at any price. He regards it as the proper motive for all service, the energy for all. worthy endeavor, and the source of all true delight. This universal word has value according to the dif ferent spheres in which it is used. There are planes of life where this sacred word has been made to do service at the sacrifice of its moral worth. Attraction is fre quently mistaken for love, instead of being recognized as a purely physical law. And the muddy streams of lust, flowing always in shaded ways, are often named after the crystal stream that flows from under the throne. As we rise in the scale of moral worth, the word finds its true meaning and gives character to the sacred relations of life. D ifferent K inds of L ove To notice the different kinds of love pointed out in the Scriptures, and expressed by different Greek words, will greatly aid us in our quest. There is the love of reason, and the love of emotion—the one deep and lasting, the other feeble and ephemeral. The word agapao is used to express the love of reason, which finds expression in esteem, honor and devotion—elements of character that deepen and strengthen with the passing years. It is the word used to express God’s love for the world, man’s love to God, and the proper love toward one’s enemies. The lighter word phileo is used to express the love of the feelings—warm, instinctive affection, such as the child or beast may have. The first belongs to the spirit, thé second to the physical or soulish life. The one is resident in the highest attributes of man ; the other, in the animal nature. Recognizing these distinctions, we find the explana tion for many of the experiences of life which fail to accord with the well-known laws of man’s true nature. To live in the emotions is to defeat the real purpose of human existence. It is to rear a building on sandy founda tion; and the result will be a character as unstable as water, and an experience as transient as the early dew and morning cloud. To live in the will is to move steadily to ward a desired haven and reach the highest and richest experience. The love of reason is the foundation of all permanent building. The crest of the wave is pleasing to the eye, and the rolling tide is eloquent with meaning and beauty,
but you cannot build upon its changing surface. You must have solid foundation even for a lighthouse. The love of the emotions is like the waves of the Sea, ever appear ing in new shades of color and beauty, but ever as un stable as water. Human sentiment and good will help mightily to smooth the pathway of the pilgrim and make life worth living; but the imperishable things of life, those intended to stand the tests of time, are not built upon sandy foundations. It is in the nature deeper and higher than human emotions, that the enduring works of men have had their birth. T h e H ome Sentiment, attraction and even natural affection, make human intercourse pleasant and profitable, but these are not sufficient for home building. The home, which ex presses heaven in miniature, gives birth to all the imper ishable things of life, and therefore should have solid foundation. When home building is founded on mere sentiment, it utterly fails of the divine, intent; but when it rests on a love that finds expression in esteem, honor and devotion, it stands the test of time and builds good ness and greatness into life. The story of Jane Eyre is an excellent illustration of this. She had loved Rochester when he was not without physical attractiveness. His appearance might have called forth the love of complacency. But Jane Eyre’s love had its source in her better self, and therefore the outward form could not affect it. When she returned to Rochester, to find him blind and broken, her high and holy love found expression in noble and unselfish service. Her love had its source in her reason and depended not on e x te rn al form or beauty. How different from this was the devo tion of Maisie to Dick in “The Light that Failed,” by Kipling. In early years they had confessed a fondness for each other; but this, as far as Maisie was concerned, had its origin in physical emotion. When the real test came —when she was called to the side of Dick to devote herself to one hopelessly blind, she discovered that the kind of love necessary for such a task was an unknown quantity to her, and she left him to his pathetic and hopeless con dition. T he C hurch If the love of reason is necessary for home building, it is also essential to the rearing of institutions on a larger scale. The apostles were divinely appointed to establish the Church, and Peter was to have no mean part in the work. But Peter signally failed in the test on loyalty and full allegiance; and before leaving the earth the Master thought it necessary to reveal to him the true nature of His love. At the close of that last fishing party on Galilean waters, when they had gathered around the fire kindled by divine hands on the shore, the Lord said to His failing but fond disciple, “Peter, dost thou love me with a love that finds expression in loyalty, honor and devotion?” The humble answer was given: “Lord, thou knowest that I am fond of thee.” And again the question was put in a
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