Knowing...Loving
Now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12
Going to school, studying and learning take a lot of our time and attention for the first 18 to 24 years of our life. What we know is measured and graded. The above Bible verse points out that no matter how much we learn and know, we will never know everything in this life.
It’s good to note that the chapter this verse comes from is a poetic description of love, so universal that people everywhere are encouraged and strengthened by its message.
The word for “love” in this chapter is the Greek word agape, which describes the deepest love we can imagine. This is pure, unconditional love, for which we would give up our life to save another.
The apostle Paul explains here that love is more important than all the other things we can do. And if we do anything without love, it means nothing.
He also talks about someday knowing “fully.” What does not knowing have to do with love? Two thoughts come to mind: (1) the older I get, the more I realize how much I don’t know; and (2) the more certain we are of something, the greater the temptation to judge others who don’t have the same certainty. The problem with that, of course, is that the more judgmental we become, the less loving we become.
I heard of an 80-year-old woman who said, “For most of my life I wanted to be right. Now I’ve finally realized that being loving is much more important.”
Lord, You know all things. We don’t. Help us to trust You to know what’s best, and to share Your love with everyone for Jesus’ sake. Amen.