If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. I Cor. 13:3, NRSV
Lent has arrived, and all kinds of people are giving up alcohol, chocolate, online gaming, and other treasured activities they consider possible vices. All kinds of people are taking on volunteer projects, daily prayer, and exercise – not-so-treasured activities they consider virtues. I have a couple of things in mind myself – ‘Tis the season, right?
It’s so easy to miss the point of these activities, to take them on as some sort of punishment or correction for past mistakes or bad behavior. Even sadder, to imagine that such acts will slide a few of our beads from the negative to the positive side in God’s mighty morality measuring abacus.
The point of these activities is not to diminish ourselves, or to exhaust our bodies, hearts, minds, and souls. It’s the exact opposite: such things can enlarge who we are, granting us a glimpse of God’s transforming love in the face we see in the mirror each morning. But only if we do them as a means to bring about good things, not as a means to hurt ourselves or an attempt to prove that our faith is bigger and better than someone else’s.
So as we begin such things, let’s ask ourselves a simple question: Is this a way to love ourselves, others, and God? If it is, dive right in. If it isn’t, consider this: without love, we gain nothing.
(PS. There is no mighty morality measuring abacus…)
[Paul understood such things, because he did all kinds of these things when he was called Saul – acts without love for others, seeking to correct nonconforming worship practices and punish their practitioners. So he did his best to keep others from making the same mistake. It’s why he wrote this love letter. For the full text, click I Corinthians 13 above.]
This truly resonates. Sometimes I think what I really need to give up are things like worry, doubt, fear…
Lately I’ve been singing that old Don Cornell hit from the 50’s “The Bible Tells Me So”.:
“Have faith, hope and charity, that’s the way to live successfully/ How do I know, the Bible tells me so”
Do good to your enemies, and the blessed Lord you’ll surely please/ ” ”
Don’t worry ’bout tomorrow , just be real good today
The Lord Is right beside you, He’ll guide you all the way
Have faith, hope and charity…
So give up all the bad stuff and take on that good stuff.
Hi Bill,
Thanks for the song – I haven’t thought of it in a long time, but it was one I sang in the churches of my childhood. What a gift! peace, Johnna
I find that rather than looking at giving up something it is better to look at adding something during Lent. Recognize the gifts in others on a daily basis, take time for silence from the hecticness of each day, offer a kind word or gesture to the everyday people we don’t know but whose lives we intersect each day at the grocery store, the gas station, fast food marts, schools….
Thanks, Terry – good words to ponder! peace, Johnna