Greatest Love of All

April 28, 2009

Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 1-2 and 1 Corinthians 13

Of course, we all know 1 Corinthians 13. That whole chapter on love that just makes you feel gushy all over.

Before I became a Christian, I knew all about this chapter. After I became a Christian, I read it for the first time. I was convicted to the point of tears. I thought about all the times that I have loved, or said that I loved someone. I had to face the fact that my love wasn’t the unconditional kind. I always wanted something in return, or something.

True love is something that is rare. Those that know love of any kind know how difficult that it can be when two different people “hook up”. Very few have actually known what it is like to truly be loved unless they behave in a certain manner, which isn’t really love at all, honestly. Even fewer have actually given this type of love to others.

This makes the reading in 1 Samuel a weird pill to swallow. It begins with a story of Hannah, a woman who feels unloved. In actuality, it sounds like her husband Elkanah loves her more than his other wife. I’m going to ignore the polygamy issue here and focus on why the heck poor Hannah felt less loved than the other, Peninnah.

I guess she just really wanted a son or something, who knows? My point is this: I’m not certain that Hannah showed the true love exemplified in 1 Corinthians 13. Maybe she isn’t supposed to, I’m not certain.

After all, what the heck does the story of Hannah exemplify? If you are jealous of your husband’s other wife, then you should pray to God for a son? How about this: if you have a son, give him to the Lord? No offense, but Hannah, your part in the story is over. When your son needed your love, you weren’t there.

I probably shouldn’t be critical of Hannah, and what she did, because she has a place in the story. Something tells me if Hannah hadn’t given up her son, Samuel would never be Samuel, and then David would never be David. I suppose 1 Samuel would be a book about some kid who came out of a polygamous marriage.

What I am trying to say is that Hannah may not have shown perfect love, but you know what? I’m betting that you don’t either. However, here’s the deal. God’s plan includes people who don’t love perfectly, get with it.

However, wouldn’t it be nice if, in the grand scheme of things, we are the ones who showed that perfect love? Man, that would be awesome. This would be a good part to play. If fathers were perfect examples of love for their sons and daughters.