Love in Action, Cont'd
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profits me nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:3
Love is an action word. Although, we can and should offer kind words to people, our love should be a continual demonstration in the things we do. Jesus says to continue in His love (John 15:9). The Apostle Paul characterizes Christ’s love in 1 Corinthians 13. If we walk in love, our behavior will have the same characteristics.
Sometimes, people do good things with the wrong motive. Some openly give to the poor so they can get praise for their good works (Matthew 6:1-4). Some will even die for a cause, hoping to make a name for themselves. Paul said love must be the motivation of actions or it won’t profit the individual. He’s referring to profit that comes from God.
Paul then describes various attributes of love. Yesterday, we saw that Joseph demonstrated some of them. He was unjustly sold into slavery, but behaved himself decently and properly; and not unseemly. He didn’t rejoice in iniquity or take pleasure in sin. He walked according to God’s love toward his master and his master’s wife. Through no fault of his, he’s imprisoned. He continued to walk in love.
Joseph loved and served God. He was faithful to those he served. And God was with him. In jail, he continued in God’s love. Love suffers long and is kind. It’s not vain, boastful, haughty or arrogant. Joseph patiently endured his misfortune. Though, he was in charge of the other prisoners, he wasn’t prideful about it. He was also kind.
The Pharaoh of Egypt sent his butler and baker to prison. They each had a dream and were troubled by them. Joseph, seeing they were sad was kind to them. He asked what was troubling them. They told him about their dreams. Joseph interpreted their dreams. He didn’t take the glory for the interpretation. He gave it to God (Genesis 40:8).
Joseph asked the butler to remember him to Pharaoh when he was restored to his position. He showed another attribute of love. Love bears up under anything. One translation says it never gives up. Its faith, hope, and patience never fail (v. 7). Joseph had to bear two more years of wrongful imprisonment before the butler remembered to mention Joseph to the Pharaoh. He could do it because he dwelled in God’s love.
He that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him (1 John 4:16). The Old Testament often gives us a picture of New Testament revelations. Joseph walked according to love (or according to God), and God was with him. In time, he was released from prison and became Pharaoh’s right hand man. Joseph continued to abide in love.
Tomorrow, we’ll see God’s love when Joseph meets his brothers.