If you have been to more than one Christian wedding in your life then it is likely you’ve heard 1 Corinthians 13 quoted or seen it printed on the bulletin, invitation or something of the sort. This chapter known as the love chapter has become a text that is seen as a marriage texts. Books have been written about it, songs have been sung about it, and of course many couples have used the text in their weddings.

Maybe even you…

Here is the problem, with the over saturation of this text and the cultural ties that have been made between it and marriage the true context of the passage has been lost.

I hope I don’t shatter anyone with the following statement, but Paul, when he wrote that text was not thinking of marriage. Yes of course the principles of love laid out in the passage are good to apply to marriage, but the text isn’t about love in the husband/wife relationship.

The text is about how to utilize one’s gifts and properly serve within the context of the local church. That we should serve Christ through His church with the love and passion we’ve all applied to our wedding vows 🙂 We are to utilize our spiritual gifts in a spirit of love.

Now that I think about it, the text would be used more accurately if we recited it and asked for individuals to commit to it upon joining the church than in a wedding.

I don’t mind that it is used in weddings or in regards to the marital relationship, but I hope next time you hear 1 Corinthians 13 you’ll pause and ask yourself “Am I serving my church with the love principles of 1 Corinthians 13?”

Tomorrow’s Reading: Exodus 5-8