Skip to main content

Abounding Love

             And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, (Philippians 1:9-10)

As I read these verses this morning, I wondered why Paul didn’t write “love may abound more and more in wisdom…”  or perhaps “in knowledge and wisdom…” Doesn’t wisdom consist of knowledge, depth of insight, and discernment? Paul uses “wise” and “wisdom” in letters to other churches, why not in the letter to the Philippians? And the answer is… I don’t know.

I did a little research. Paul wrote to three churches in Greece: Corinth, Philippi, and Thessalonica. He used the word wisdom 17 times and the word wise 12 times in his two letters to Corinth, but not at all in the letters to Philippi or Thessalonica. Looking through the uses of the terms in the letters to the Corinthians, he tends to scorn wisdom. Given the Greek fascination with philosophy (which means “love of wisdom” after all,) the choice not to refer to wisdom or to dismiss it as a central theme was probably deliberate. Using the word would likely have taken them on a rabbit trail that was likely to never end.

Let’s get off of that rabbit trail and follow the trail Paul did follow. His prayer was that they would love. That was the focus. That love was to exist in large amounts due to knowledge and depth of insight, also known as wisdom. Wisdom is vital to love, but the focus is on loving others, not on knowledge or understanding. Wisdom is useless it is connected to love. But at the same time, love that doesn’t abound in wise action isn’t love.

The reason we should want our love to abound in knowledge and depth of insight is so we may discern what is best. Love is seeking to do what is best for the beloved, which takes knowledge and insight. The result of doing what is best for the beloved is being pure and blameless. It’s all tied together. Love needs wisdom, which together result in doing what is best, with the consequence of being blameless.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more