Love’s Unfailing Light – a 1 Corinthians 13 Story
Sophie and Jack had been married for five years, but lately, things had been tough. They loved each other, but their arguments seemed to escalate and they couldn’t find a way to communicate without fighting. One morning, Sophie woke up with a sudden realization that she needed help. She knew that they needed to work on their relationship before it was too late, so she decided to seek guidance from a marriage counselor.
At their first session, the counselor asked them to read 1 Corinthians 13 from the Bible. Sophie was surprised to learn that this chapter, which is often read at weddings, was not just about love between a husband and a wife, but about love in all aspects of life. She read, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs."
The counselor then asked them to reflect on how they were each applying these principles in their relationship. Sophie realized that she was often impatient and easily angered. She also realized that she had been keeping a record of all the things Jack had done wrong, which made it difficult for her to move past their arguments. Jack, on the other hand, realized that he was often too proud to apologize and admit when he was wrong.
Over the next few weeks, they worked on applying the principles of 1 Corinthians 13 in their daily lives. They practiced being patient and kind with each other, even when they disagreed. They tried to avoid keeping records of wrongs and instead focused on forgiveness and moving forward. They also tried to be more humble and willing to apologize when they were wrong.
Slowly but surely, their relationship began to transform. They still had disagreements, but they were able to work through them without resorting to yelling or fighting. They were able to communicate in a more loving and respectful way, and they felt closer to each other than they had in a long time.
Sophie and Jack were grateful for the wisdom they had gained from 1 Corinthians 13. They knew that their journey towards a stronger and more loving relationship was not over, but they were confident that with continued effort and a commitment to love, they could overcome any obstacle. They ended each day by reading this verse from 1 Corinthians 13: "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."