| 1 Corinthians 13:13 – “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” |
If you ask people what they want in life, you will get many answers.
Some dream of a high position, with all the perks that go with it. They can imagine yachts, mountain hideaways, and private jets.
Yet, be careful what you want in your life.
A little parable tells us an insightful lesson.
A woman came out of her house and saw three old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She said, “I don’t know you but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat.”
“Is your husband home?” they asked.
“No he’s out,” she said.
“Then we cannot come in.” they replied.
That evening when her husband came home she told him what happened.
“Go tell them I am home and inviting them in.”
The woman went out and invited them in.
“We do not go into a house together,” they replied
“Why is that?” she asked
One of the old man explain, “his name is Wealth” he said pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to the other, “he is Success, and I am Love.”
Then he added, “now go in and discuss with your husband, which one of you that you want in your home.”
The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed. “How nice,” he said.
Then let us invite Wealth. Let him come in and fill our home with wealth.
His wife disagreed. “My dear, why don’t we invite success?”
Their daughter-in-law joined in with her own suggestion: “would it not be better to invite Love? Our home within be filled with Love!
Her in-laws agree.
The woman went out and asked the three old man, “Which of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest.”
Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other two also got up and followed him.
Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success: “I only invited Love. Why are you coming in?”
The old men reply together: “If you have invited Wealth or Success, the other two would’ve stayed out. But since you invited Love, wherever he goes, we go with him. “wherever there is love, there is success and wealth.”
When the Bible surveys humanity, it sees many different kinds of people.
There is a David or Solomon who find their lives not completely filled.
Or there is the rich fool of Luke 12 who had everything but another day of living.
The Corinthians wanted importance, to be seen as spiritual. They yearned for a greater spiritual gift than their neighbor so they could impress all who heard them. It is to them that Paul gives life’s ultimate answer.
Suppose you have the greatest gift possible, would it be enough, he asked them.
But his conclusion about what a life needs is simple but elusive:
“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13, ESV)
Stop and ask yourself, which visitor do you want at your table? It will change you.
- Robert G. Taylor
robertgtaylor.com
