I really appreciate the faith I witnessed in so many who visited me or prayed for me last year. I am convinced these prayers continue to play a huge role in my health today. I also appreciate the hope expressed by many, many friends. The hope of others often lifted my spirits and helped me through a difficult day.
By far, though, the thing I appreciate most is love. At times, we may get a little confused about what is most important, but we should remember that “love never fails”. God’s love is demonstrated in a wide variety of ways, but it is easily recognized. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
One of the greatest sufferers of all time had some friends that teach us much. These friends really did hope Job would get well. I think they suffered as they watched him suffer. These guys also had a faith in God. They talked about Him constantly and seemed to be quite knowledgeable. The problem was they didn’t know God as well as they thought they did. They were also unaware of a confrontation in Heaven between the Creator and Satan. If you read the book of Job you might conclude that Job’s friends were long on words and theories, but short on love.
Many years later, the apostle Paul implied that if Job’s friends had understood all mysteries and possessed all knowledge, but failed to love, they were nothing. Even if they had a faith that was able to heal their hurting friend, but had no love, they were nothing. As we serve our fellow man, let us always remember what is greatest in our Father’s sight. It is what He pours out so abundantly to us.
“And now these three remain: faith, hope, love. But the greatest of these is love.” I Corinthians 13:13