Sabbath School
First and Second Corinthians
Spiritual Gifts
Lesson 7 - Sunday
When Love Grows Cold
“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” — Matthew 24:12, KJV
Read 1 Corinthians 13, and one truth becomes impossible to miss: love is not merely something we feel; it is something we choose to live. Paul describes love as patient, kind, humble, selfless, forgiving, truthful, hopeful, and enduring. Love does not envy or boast. It does not seek its own way or keep a record of wrongs. Most importantly, love does not give up easily.
Paul’s message is especially powerful because he places love above spiritual gifts and impressive accomplishments. A person may speak beautifully, understand great truths, possess remarkable faith, or give generously, but without love, those things lose their true spiritual value. Love is what gives our words, actions, and gifts their Christlike purpose.
Then Jesus gives us a sobering warning in Matthew 24:12: “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”
Notice the connection. As sin and wickedness increase, love can begin to disappear. When the world becomes more hostile, selfish, angry, and divided, it can become easy for Christians to respond in the same way. We may become impatient with people who think differently from us. We may become quick to criticize, slow to forgive, or indifferent toward someone else's pain. Little by little, our hearts can grow cold.
But Jesus calls us to something different.
Imagine what might happen if, in a world where love is becoming increasingly scarce, someone encountered a Christian whose love was unmistakably genuine.
Think about the lonely person who rarely receives a phone call or kind word. A simple visit might remind them that they are not forgotten.
Think about the person who has made a terrible mistake and expects only condemnation. A compassionate response, while still recognizing the seriousness of wrong, might give that person the courage to seek forgiveness and begin again.
Think about the grieving person who doesn't need an explanation for their pain but simply needs someone willing to sit beside them. Sometimes love speaks most powerfully without saying much at all.
Think about the difficult coworker, neighbor, family member, or church member who seems especially hard to love. Choosing patience instead of anger may be the very thing that makes them wonder why we respond differently.
And think about someone who feels rejected, overlooked, or unworthy. A sincere word of encouragement, a helping hand, or simply treating that person with dignity can make a lasting impression.
We often imagine that changing someone's life requires something dramatic. Yet 1 Corinthians 13 reminds us that love is frequently demonstrated through ordinary choices: patience when we could be irritated, kindness when we could be indifferent, forgiveness when we could hold a grudge, humility when we could demand recognition, and hope when someone else has almost given up.
The world does not need Christians who merely talk about love. It needs Christians who show it.
As we approach the fulfillment of Jesus' warning in Matthew 24:12, we should ask ourselves: Is my love growing colder because of the condition of the world, or is the love of Christ becoming more visible through me?
We cannot control how much hatred, selfishness, or wickedness surrounds us. But we can choose what happens in our own hearts. We can ask Jesus to keep His love alive within us so that, even when love is becoming scarce, someone who desperately needs it can encounter it through us.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for showing us what genuine love looks like through Jesus Christ. Forgive us for the times when our love has grown cold, when we have been impatient, selfish, unforgiving, or indifferent toward others.
Help us to live the kind of love described in 1 Corinthians 13. Teach us to be patient when we are frustrated, kind when others are hurting, humble when we want recognition, and forgiving when we have been wronged.
Lord, bring someone into our path who needs Your love today. Give us eyes to recognize their need and a willing heart to respond. May our words bring encouragement, our actions bring comfort, and our lives point people toward Jesus.
When the world becomes increasingly cold and divided, keep our hearts warm with Your love. Help us not merely to speak about love, but to demonstrate it in ways that make a lasting difference.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
More on Lesson 7: A Portrait of Love
3rd Quarter Sabbath School: 1st and 2nd Corinthians
