LOVE IS THE GREATEST

If you haven’t already seen the devotion titled, “Love Is the Greatest,” I encourage you to click HERE before you continue with this blog post. This will give you a Scriptural foundation for the greatest love which is found in 1 Corinthians chapter 13.

Most of us are familiar with the “love chapter” of the Bible found in 1 Corinthians 13. From this chapter, there is no doubt how important love is to God. These verses are pretty powerful! But how can the descriptions of love in this passage be applied to our lives and our marriages? Are they even possible to follow? Keep reading to find out how to love others, and your wife, with the greatest love this side of heaven. It’s easier than you think!

For 20 years, I was part of a men’s Bible study where each of us took turns sharing portions of God’s Word. It was during that time that I happened to have 1 Corinthians Chapter 13 assigned to me. It took me fifteen weeks to get through the entire passage, as I addressed one aspect of love per week. This just happened to earn me the reputation of “the love doctor” in that particular group.

While I chuckle about it now, that I would be considered a “love doctor,” there’s one thing I’m certain of: God’s love is the greatest. In fact, according to John chapter 13, Jesus loved His disciples so much, He humbled Himself and washed their feet as an act of servitude and great love. Then He said, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:34 NLT)

As husbands, our love for our wives is an outward display of our devotion to Christ. In fact, love identifies the followers of Christ. This concept will be the springboard for this post, as we learn the importance of loving our wives according to 1 Corinthians 13. Remember, it’s not about perfection, but instead, about following Christ. By applying these attributes of love in your life and your marriage, you will not only live as a disciple, but also as a husband who is wholly devoted to loving his wife with the greatest kind of love.

Now, here are three ways to show your wife just how much you love her.

1. LOVE HER UNCONDITIONALLY

Finding ways to communicate unconditional love to your wife is one of the best ways to build trust in your relationship. The key thing to keep in mind is it’s not based on performance, actions, perfection, or anything but genuine love for her as your wife.

Now, please understand, loving people unconditionally isn’t easy. Many of us have expectations that go unmet, and it’s easy to show our love based on performance. However, think about God’s love for us. He doesn’t love us more when we do more, or less when we do less. His love is constant, steadfast, and unchanging.

As husbands, we can model our love for our wives based on God’s love for us. One way we can do this is to remember to love our wives as Christ loves His church. That’s a tall order, but it’s the most important kind of love there is – and that’s what we are to do with our spouses.

Practically speaking, here are a few ways to show your wife unconditional love:

• Point out her strengths more than her failures.
• Give her grace in every area.
• Thank her often for her role as your wife. Tell her you love her – no matter what!

If loving your people unconditionally is difficult for you, spend some time reading 1 Corinthians 13. Pray about it. Journal about it. And most of all, put what you read into practice.

2. BE HER CHAMPION

Championing your wife is knowing the right thing to do and doing it. This goes hand-in-hand with being friendly, generous, and considerate. It means having her best in mind and showing enthusiasm for what she is passionate about. This kind of love builds your wife up in faith and life, and is a powerful way to show her how important she is.

Poet Maya Angelou once said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Make your wife feel loved and valued, by encouraging her in her gifts and talents, helping her in her struggles, and championing her as her biggest supporter. This doesn’t mean you have to agree on everything, but it does mean you champion the things that are important to her and work together towards unity in Christ and with each other.

Consider these practical ways to be your wife’s champion:

• Listen to her goals and dreams without criticism.
• Offer to help in any way you can, including funding her goals or volunteering your time.
• Cheer her on when she is timid or insecure.
• Be there to help pick up the pieces when things don’t go as planned.

As your wife’s greatest advocate, she will see and feel the love you have for her, which will cover a multitude of anxieties. Truly, being her champion is one of the best ways to live out 1 Corinthians chapter 13!

3. WRITE OUT YOUR LOVE FOR HER

Don’t wait until Valentine’s Day to write loving messages to your wife! Keep a list of things you love about her and keep adding to it each month. Then, schedule a dinner date where you can share your list with her. She will absolutely love it.

If you keep a journal, be sure to include a section where you thank God for your wife. Thank Him for the small things and the big things. This will go a long way in helping you be more kind and loving in your relationship. So often, we neglect to be thankful for our spouses. However, they are one of the greatest gifts this side of heaven. Write out your love for her often. You’ll be surprised at the difference it makes!

Here are a few meaningful ways to share your love through the written word:

• Write a poem, including an acrostic poem from the letters in her name.
• Leave love notes on the mirror and in her car.
• Write her a letter at least once a year thanking her for being your wife.
• Buy cards “just because.” There are some great cards on the market to help you express how you feel!

The attributes listed in 1 Corinthians 13 include things such as patience, kindness, hopefulness, and endurance. It’s this kind of love that will lead to the greatest gains in life and marriage. Remember, it’s not about perfection, but devotion to others through the love of God. Ask Him to help you put 1 Corinthians 13 into practice and watch as your relationships are taken to a whole new level.

For an assessment on how you’re doing in the love department, please refer to the handouts tab and download the handouts titled, How Great a Lover Are You Really? (According to God’s Standards). This is a simple exercise to help you determine how you score in each area of love mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13. This is also a great exercise for you and your wife to do together!

ACTION STEP:

Write your wife a love note this week and tell her one of the things you love most about her. Chances are, she needs to hear it!