Paul deals with the last issue the Corinthians have raised-the collection of money for the suffering church in Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 16:1-4). They should set aside money each week on the day when they come together to worship God. This was a sacrificial act, since not many of the Corinthians were ″influential″ or ″of noble birth″ (1:26); many of them would have been casual labourers who would not know what pay they would be getting from week to week.¹⁶ That's love. We should be willing to give like that, too.

″Do everything in love″ (16:14), Paul reminds the Corinthians-who, in their quest for spiritual knowledge, had forgotten love altogether. In the list of requests that Paul makes at the end of this letter, notice how each one is driven by love:

It's love that prompts Paul to make plans to ″spend time″ with the Corinthians, not just ″a passing visit″ (v. 7).

It's love for the Lord and for those who don't yet know the gospel that keeps him in Ephesus, where ″a great door for effective work has opened″ (vv. 8-9).

It's love for Timothy, one of his dearest team members, that leads Paul to urge the Corinthians to treat him with respect and ensure that he has ″nothing to fear while he is with you″ (vv. 10-11). And, similarly, it's the Corinthians' love for Apollos that will cause them to be patient and understanding as they await his delayed visit (v. 12).

It's love for Jesus and His gospel which the whole church in Corinth will need if they are to be on their guard against false teaching and to stand firm in the faith, and to do so courageously (v. 13).

It's love that Paul asks the Corinthians to show Stephanas and his companions, who seem to be their leaders and who have shown nothing but devotion to the church and to the gospel (vv. 15-18). It is likely that Stephanas is now returning to Corinth bearing this very letter from Paul to the church.

It's love that binds tightly together very different people who are living miles apart but who are all believers of Christ, making them family (v. 19).

It's love that Paul, as he takes up the pen from his secretary to finish the letter in his own handwriting (v. 21), urges the Corinthians to have towards the Lord. And it's love that Paul sends to them, too.

Love. It's what God has given us. It's what we must show each other. And it's what our world desperately needs to see in us, and then experience.

Heavenly Father, thank You for all that 1 Corinthians has taught me about Your self-giving, sacrificial, all-conquering love. I have known that love in Jesus. Help me to love as You have loved me.