What if we made love our highest goal?
Not success. Not recognition. Not wealth. Not even being right.
Love.
The apostle Paul wrote, “Let love be your highest goal!” (1 Corinthians 14:1). That is a remarkable statement. Paul wasn’t saying that love is merely one good quality among many. He was pointing us toward something that should shape everything we do.
Love Is More Than a Feeling
We often think of love as an emotion. We love someone because we feel affection for them. But biblical love goes much deeper.
Love is a choice.
It means choosing patience when someone is difficult. Choosing kindness when we could respond harshly. Choosing forgiveness when we have been hurt. Choosing to listen when we would rather speak. Choosing to put someone else’s needs ahead of our own.
Jesus demonstrated this kind of love perfectly.
He loved people who were overlooked. He welcomed those others rejected. He forgave those who wronged Him. He served His disciples. And ultimately, He gave His life for us.
Love Changes the Way We Live
When love becomes our highest goal, it changes our priorities.
Instead of asking, “What do I want?” we begin asking, “What would love do?”
Instead of, “How can I prove I’m right?” we ask, “How can I respond in a way that brings peace?”
Instead of, “What can I get from this person?” we ask, “How can I bless this person?”
That doesn’t mean we become weak or allow people to take advantage of us. Jesus was loving, but He was also truthful and courageous. Biblical love isn’t simply being nice. It is genuinely seeking what is best for another person.
Love Matters More Than Our Gifts
Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians is especially powerful because he places love alongside spiritual gifts.
We can be talented, knowledgeable, gifted speakers, successful leaders, excellent musicians, or accomplished in many areas of life. But without love, something essential is missing.
Our abilities may impress people, but love touches hearts.
We can have the right words and the wrong attitude. We can do good things for the wrong reasons. We can serve God publicly while failing to love the people closest to us.
God isn’t simply interested in what we accomplish. He cares about who we are becoming.
And becoming more like Jesus means becoming more loving.
Start With the People Closest to You
Sometimes it’s easier to love strangers than the people we live with.
We can be kind to people at church and impatient at home. We can smile at acquaintances and become irritated with our family. We can talk about loving others while keeping a record of everything someone close to us has done wrong.
Love begins at home.
It means speaking gently to your spouse. Being patient with your children and grandchildren. Listening carefully. Forgiving quickly. Encouraging rather than criticizing.
The people closest to us should experience the love of Christ through us more than anyone else.
Love Is a Daily Decision
You don’t have to wait for some great opportunity to demonstrate love.
Love happens in ordinary moments.
A phone call to someone who is lonely.
A word of encouragement to someone who is discouraged.
A willingness to forgive.
An apology when you’ve been wrong.
A patient response when you’re irritated.
Helping someone without expecting anything in return.
Taking time to listen.
Praying for someone.
These may seem like small things, but a life filled with small acts of love becomes a powerful testimony to Jesus.
Make Love Your Goal Today
At the end of the day, many of the things we spend our lives pursuing will not matter nearly as much as we think.
Achievements fade. Possessions eventually belong to someone else. Recognition disappears.
But love has eternal significance.
Jesus said that the greatest commandments are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength—and to love our neighbour as ourselves.
So perhaps we should begin each day with a simple prayer:
“Lord, help me love today.”
Help me love when I’m tired.
Help me love when I’m disappointed.
Help me love when someone disagrees with me.
Help me love when forgiveness is difficult.
Help me love when nobody notices.
Help me love as You have loved me.
Because when everything else is stripped away, love remains.
So let love be your highest goal.
Not because love is always easy, but because love is the way of Jesus.
And the more we love, the more our lives look like His.
“Let love be your highest goal.” — 1 Corinthians 14:1
