The Best Use of Life Is Love
By Rick Warren
“Let love be your highest goal!” 1 Corinthians 14:1 (NLT)
Human beings have an amazing capacity to both remember and forget. We remember every single little hurt we’ve ever experienced—but we forget the lessons those hurts taught us. And so, we end up needing to learn the same lessons over and over again.
That’s why we need to learn to pray like David: “Teach us to use wisely all the time we have” (Psalm 90:12 CEV).
Over the next few days, we’re going to look at three truths we often learn about life and relationships—but then too quickly forget.
These three truths will help you focus your life and reduce overload. If you practice and apply them, you’ll have a healthier life. You’ll have a happier family. You’ll have a more productive business. And if all of us would follow these truths, the world would experience more meaningful, committed relationships.
Today we’ll start with the first truth: The best use of life is love.
The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 14:1, “Let love be your highest goal!” (NLT) In other words, make love your number one priority. Make it your primary objective. Make it your greatest ambition. Make it your life purpose. Don’t say, “One of the things I want in life is loving relationships.” Don’t just put it in your “Top 10.” Make it number one!
Why does God say to make love your highest goal? There are two reasons:
First, God says that love is what life is all about. The Bible says, “No matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love” (1 Corinthians 13:3 The Message). It is amazing to me that so often we act as if loving relationships are something we’ll squeeze into our schedules—if we can. Instead of making quality time with the people in our lives a priority, we fit it into the margins. But for God, loving relationships aren’t just an important part of life. God says loving relationships are life. Life is all about love.
Second, God says you need to focus on love because love is one of the only things that will last: “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT). Do you want to leave a legacy after you die? Do you want to make a difference with your life? Do you want to make a positive influence on this world that outlasts you? Fill your life with love.
Each day you’re faced with one decision after another about how to spend your life. It’s always right to choose love. You are most like Jesus when you chose love.
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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