Nothing trumps love.
When President Trump was running for office in 2016 (and somewhat again in 2024), it was common to hear, “I don’t really agree with him on everything, but I like that he calls it like he sees it.”
People appreciated the blunt, even crass, communication in an age where the polish on politicians seemed to be smoke and mirrors.
For a while, it seemed that people didn’t feel free to say what they meant in the land of free speech. I am glad that seems to be passing.
A new trend is rising: hot takes, bold talk, bombastic leaders, and audacious plans.
However, raising the volume does not seem to increase people’s confidence that they are hearing the truth.
The loud leaders of our day are ringing gongs and clanging symbols (1 Cor 13:1).
As the noise increases, what can we be confident in? What plan should we follow? Whose project, rally, or network should we join?
Nothing trumps love.
I know the world has mutilated love, and many believe love is a deadly affirmation of anything and everything.
We can and must reject the world’s “love,” but we must not cast out biblical love in the process.
Love is the sacrificial commitment to the glory of God and the eternal good of others.
Strong men, big talk, and bold plans will prove feeble and frail against God’s love.
Nothing trumps God’s love.
The unfailing love of God is the only reliable strength you can trust. Listen to Psalm 147:10–11
10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
11 the Lord delights in those who fear him,
who put their hope in his unfailing love.
The pleasure and power of God are not going to be found in the resources of this world.
Horsepower and deadlifts will not win the day.
Fear of the Lord and hope in His love are essential to lasting success.
Our hearts can be tempted to trust in our strength or to make alliances with wicked warriors. The Scriptures call us to see through these short-sighted partnerships and recognize that they are the path to destruction.
Israel’s history is full of kings who made alliances with wicked empires because they couldn’t rely on the unfailing love of God. Their stories were written to warn us!
Nothing trumps loving like God.
The gurus speaking to you on the internet might want to celebrate power, discipline, or knowledge, but God wants you to prioritize love. 1 Corinthians 13 says,
13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
No matter how impressive the movement or leader, it will fail without love.
Love-less leaders lose.
We don’t want to align ourselves with loveless leaders.
So, what does love look like? 1 Corinthians 13 continues,
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails.
Could you reread verse 8?
An ad for a Masterclass told me that Power was essential to my success, but God said it was Love.
Love is what God tells us will not fail.
The world, the flesh, and the Devil assault the value of love daily in our lives. Love seems illogical and unsuccessful in so many moments.
In the real pressures of life, it is easy to dismiss love and negotiate it out of the plan.
Planning around love is planning to fail.
I want to help you plan to never fail by planning to love.
If love is central to your success, here’s what I’d recommend: take the descriptions from 1 Corinthians 13 and evaluate how you’re doing.
Mark the Love descriptions that are a struggle for you.
Identify where in your life that description is most clearly a challenge.
Describe what love would look like in that situation.
Pray for the Spirit’s help to follow His plan for success.
I created a worksheet below. I can email it to you, or you can copy it for yourself to review.
Planning to Love Personal Assessment Worksheet “Planning around love is planning to fail. I want to help you plan to never fail by planning to love.” Instructions: Work through each love description from 1 Corinthians 13 using the four steps below: 1. Mark the Love descriptions that are a struggle for you 2. Identify where in your life that description is most clearly a challenge 3. Describe what love would look like in that situation 4. Pray for the Spirit’s help to follow His plan for success Patient ☐ This is a struggle for me Step 2 - Where is this most challenging in my life? Step 3 - What would love look like in that situation? Step 4 - Prayer for the Spirit’s help: Kind ☐ This is a struggle for me Step 2 - Where is this most challenging in my life? Step 3 - What would love look like in that situation? Step 4 - Prayer for the Spirit’s help: Does not envy ☐ This is a struggle for me Step 2 - Where is this most challenging in my life? Step 3 - What would love look like in that situation? Step 4 - Prayer for the Spirit’s help: Not proud ☐ This is a struggle for me Step 2 - Where is this most challenging in my life? Step 3 - What would love look like in that situation? Step 4 - Prayer for the Spirit’s help: Does not dishonor others ☐ This is a struggle for me Step 2 - Where is this most challenging in my life? Step 3 - What would love look like in that situation? Step 4 - Prayer for the Spirit’s help: Not self-seeking ☐ This is a struggle for me Step 2 - Where is this most challenging in my life? Step 3 - What would love look like in that situation? Step 4 - Prayer for the Spirit’s help: Not easily angered ☐ This is a struggle for me Step 2 - Where is this most challenging in my life? Step 3 - What would love look like in that situation? Step 4 - Prayer for the Spirit’s help: Keeps no record of wrongs ☐ This is a struggle for me Step 2 - Where is this most challenging in my life? Step 3 - What would love look like in that situation? Step 4 - Prayer for the Spirit’s help: Does not delight in evil ☐ This is a struggle for me Step 2 - Where is this most challenging in my life? Step 3 - What would love look like in that situation? Step 4 - Prayer for the Spirit’s help: Rejoices with the Truth ☐ This is a struggle for me Step 2 - Where is this most challenging in my life? Step 3 - What would love look like in that situation? Step 4 - Prayer for the Spirit’s help: Always protects ☐ This is a struggle for me Step 2 - Where is this most challenging in my life? Step 3 - What would love look like in that situation? Step 4 - Prayer for the Spirit’s help: Always trusts ☐ This is a struggle for me Step 2 - Where is this most challenging in my life? Step 3 - What would love look like in that situation? Step 4 - Prayer for the Spirit’s help: Always hopes ☐ This is a struggle for me Step 2 - Where is this most challenging in my life? Step 3 - What would love look like in that situation? Step 4 - Prayer for the Spirit’s help: Always perseveres ☐ This is a struggle for me Step 2 - Where is this most challenging in my life? Step 3 - What would love look like in that situation? Step 4 - Prayer for the Spirit’s help: “If love is central to your success, then planning to love is planning to succeed.”