Key scripture – “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13).

Do you know as a Christian what your fundamental calling is?

Your fundamental calling is to love—to love God with all your heart, soul and mind, and love others as you love yourself. “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.’” (Matthew 22:37-39).

In 1 Corinthians 13 the apostle Paul filled in the details for us of what a life of love looks like:

Being patient and kind, avoid boasting and pride. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” (1 Corinthians 13:4);

Not demanding our own way and not dishonoring others or keeping a record of wrongs done by others. “It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” (1 Corinthians 13:5);

Pursuing truth, justice, and hope, and persevering in all things. “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:6-7).

Love is so important that if we do anything without love, no matter how great it is, it means nothing. “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3),

Based on what Paul is telling us, if what you do in your personal life, with your family or at your job, is not done with love, it means nothing!

Imagine that after you die a sign were placed outside your home telling visitors about you. Beyond the “castles” you built and the things you achieved, how would it describe you? Would it describe you as someone who achieved much but loved little? Or as someone who achieved much by loving much?

In the end, the castles we build for ourselves here on earth will crumble and all that will remain of our lives is love—love found in Jesus.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21).

Just think what would happen if you measured the success of each day by how much you loved rather than by how much you accomplished.

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, forgive me for measuring my success based on earthly standards. Teach me, through the Holy Spirit, how too measure my success based on what is important to You, how much I love. I want to store up treasures in Heaven, not here on earth. When I die, I want the sign to say: This child of God loved Jesus with all her heart, soul, mind, and strength, and she loved others as herself. Father, show me how I can use my resources and freedom in Jesus to bless others like Paul told us to do in Galations, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” (Galatians 5:13). Father, thank You that the greatest example of love is when You Gave Your Son, Jesus, to die for our sins so that we can have eternal life, for You did not send Jesus into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17). In the Name of Jesus, Who is Love, I pray, Amen.