Scripture:
“But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13
Perspective:
Have you ever received an extravagant gift from someone? Maybe they gave you a vacation, expensive jewelry, or paid for your college tuition. It was over the top, unexpected, and left you looking for words. Thank you didn’t seem adequate.
Love is extravagant by definition, although we tend to classify the important things with the ordinary things. We love our banana; we love our dog; we love our mom. Although it differs in degree of love, we associate the same word with them all. However, love is powerful and can break down barriers, forge relationships, and overcome adversity. Love doesn’t give up on people even when you watch them go back to the same addiction. Love cares more about helping a single mom in need buy groceries instead of the latest fashions. Love doesn’t strive to keep up with the world’s standard for material accumulation. Love doesn’t keep rehearsing past mistakes. Love puts hope in God over people or things. Love always seeks to find the greatness in people. This type of love is extravagant and contagious. God’s love for us is over-the-top extravagant. You don’t see people volunteering everyday to lay their life down for you, but God did. In the same way God has so greatly loved you, may you love so extravagantly that people encounter God’s love everyday of their life.
