These three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
A publishing firm had the custom of sending its retirees calendars printed on felt. When these were not delivered, it was found that the postal workers, finding the mail bags so light, put them away because they thought they were empty. Weight is not a reliable basis for judging the value or non-value of things. A load of coal is far heavier than a diamond, but not nearly as valuable.
Weight, size, bulk – these are not the important factors in one’s Christian experience. What about being “cumbered with a load of care,” as the hymnal line says? What would ordinarily be a heavy burden becomes light when Christ helps us carry it. Saint Paul speaks of the Christian’s sufferings as being “momentary,” adding that they work “for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17).
Weight, volume, mass – these are not the qualities by which we judge God’s blessings. Gold and silver were once estimated by weight, and the heavier the bags containing these precious metals, the wealthier the owners. Yes, God blesses us also with this world’s goods, perhaps even abundantly as He did Abraham. But His spiritual gifts are greater. You cannot weigh them on the scales. You cannot estimate the worth of His love nor fully determine its dimensions. Who can grasp “how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge” (Ephesians 3:18-19)? Beyond our understanding are all God’s gifts flowing from His love: forgiveness, peace, eternal life in Christ.
Your gifts to God and to one another don’t go by weight or price tags, either. What counts is the love that prompts giving and serving. A cup of cold water given in faith is more precious in God’s sight than a river of gifts people don’t need. Parents know – should know – that the giving of themselves to their children is worth more than material gifts offered as substitutes for personal love.
In your house are meters or devices for measuring gas, water, and electricity. But love in your home cannot be metered, cannot be put in bags, cannot be bought. But how valuable it is!
PRAYER: Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your love to me. Increase my love to You and others. Amen.
(Devotions from "With Jesus Every Day" copyright 1997, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time emailing of this link to a friend. For information on other devotional material, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit CPH at www.cph.org.)
Today's Bible Readings: Proverbs 8-9 John 21
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