Dave Dishman

Last weekend I performed a wedding. The young couple exchanged vows on top of a mountain in Colorado, a beautiful setting to celebrate the start of their life together.

I always enjoy reading lines from 1 Corinthians 13 at a wedding. Here’s a few verses you’ll recognize: 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. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

I also pointed out a verse found later in that same chapter: When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I grew up, I put childish ways behind me. I encouraged the bride and groom to think through the words again, this time in light of their adulthood.

Love is patient. Your patience will be tested in marriage in ways you cannot imagine. Little things will annoy you. Ask God to help you love patiently.

Love is kind. When you argue, you will be tempted to be harsh in your words and uncaring in your hearts. In those times, ask God to make you kind-hearted toward each other.

Love keeps no record of wrongs. You will be tempted to keep a scoreboard, one showing your wonderfulness (your wins) and your spouse’s cluelessness (their losses). Don’t keep score. Ask the Lord for love that wipes your scoreboard clean.

I tried to move from flowery feelings to the reality of living with someone for years. This is not a pie in the sky passage—it’s a hard work passage. I encouraged my young friends to read 1 Corinthians 13 often. Memorize it, pray through it and ask the Lord to make it true in their lives.

The same goes for you and me. These words guide not just married life but all of adult life. Hitched to someone or not, these are remarkably potent words to guide our lives and relationships.

1 Corinthians 13

Photo: Background of this wedding in the mountains

Have you ever worked for a lousy boss? One who treats their employees poorly and makes weird decisions? You can’t wait to get out from under their thumb, and everyone breathes a sigh of relief when they move on.

Thankfully, in all my years of working I’ve only experienced a couple of lousy bosses. I took my first job at age 14 (I lived in a tourist town with lots of work for teenagers). I loved those bosses, worked for them off and on for several years, and we’re still friends. Now fifty-plus years of employment with only a couple of blips. But those blips stand out.

A lousy leader leaves a mark. Jehoram, king of Judah, shines as an especially awful leader. Upon taking the throne his killed all his brothers, thus eliminating any rivals. He led his people to worship other gods and failed to hold off an invasion that ended in the looting of his country. The Lord eventually afflicted Jehoram with a bowel disease followed by a horrific death after two years of suffering. The Bible tells us he departed with no one’s regret. 

Of all the ways to exit, that’s gotta be the worst. You’re gone and no one cares. In fact, people breathe a sigh of relief. When I leave this world I hope someone mourns, or is glad they knew me, or lives better thanks to something I said or did. It’s actually not that hard to create goodwill. Love the Lord, care for neighbors, and avoid the lousy fate of Jehoram.

2 Chronicles 21

Photo by Pablo Varela

I walked with a friend for several years and often the conversation turned to spiritual issues. One day he said, I probably shouldn’t bring this up since you know way more about the Bible than I do, but I don’t believe in the Old Testament anymore. From now on I’m only giving credence to the words of Jesus. I replied, You’re right, I do know why more about the Bible than you do.

Then I mentioned this particular teaching from Jesus: Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

Jesus specifically spoke to those who sought to extinguish the influence of the Law and the Prophets (our Old Testament today). Rather than push them aside, he upheld their authority. Not even the least bit of punctuation should be ignored. Instead, those who follow Jesus are to engage with the Old Testament scriptures, wrestle with the difficult passages and rest in the promises found within. What a loss if we choose to ignore some of the most powerful writings in all of human history.

My friend, to his credit, said I haven’t seen that before. I guess I’ll have to rethink my position. Beware the words of Jesus—they are not easily dismissed. Taking the stance of a red-letter Christian, believing only what Jesus spoke, might just lead you to the glorious depths of the rest of your Bible.

Matthew 5:17-19

Photo by Susan Holt Simpson

In a rather gross metaphor, the psalmist refers to those who are contemptuous of God like a lump of grease: The insolent smear me with lies, but with my whole heart I keep your precepts; their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law.

The phrase unfeeling like fat describes a an attitude of callousness and spiritual dullness. Arrogance and self-sufficiency numb the impertinent to the ways of God. In contrast, the writer chooses to follow God’s law. He reads the Scriptures and lives by their direction. His inner being grows healthier as pride melts away in the light of God’s Word.

Spiritual health is similar to physical health. If I allow fatty tissue to invade my heart, my body suffers and the build-up prematurely ends my life. Lard oozing through my arteries is the last thing I want, so I exercise and eat right in order to counteract the situation.

I hope to keep such catastrophe from my spiritual heart as well. Taking in God’s word and putting it into practice burns off the fat and creates a heathy soul in its place, one responsive to God and to the people around me.

Psalm 119:69-70