"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal...And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing...And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing..." I Corinthians 13:1-3
I asked the question above, "Just what is cancer?" This is not going to be a medical message...but certainly a message concerning our human condition. According to the American Cancer Society, "Cancer begins when cells in a part of the body start to grow out of control. There are many kinds of cancer, but they all start because of out-of-control growth of abnormal cells." (ACS: The History of Cancer - http://www.cancer.org/).
The American Cancer Society states that there are "many kinds of cancer...but they all start because of out-of-control growth of abnormal cells." I submit to you that there are indeed many kinds of cancers of the human condition...and they all start because of out of control growth of abnormal "cells" of emotions, feelings, fears, attitudes, anger, stubbornness...or more simply put, because of a lack of "love".
We are all very conscious of cancer causing elements in our lives...smoking, chemicals, unhealthy diets, pollution, even heredity. But are we just as aware of the cancer causing elements in our hearts and souls? Greed, lust, jealousy, ambition, the need to be "in control" of all situations at all times...a critical spirit, superiority complex...or inferiority complex...unchecked anger, rage, addictions to things that harm the mind as well as the spirit...these are just a few of the "cancers" that permeate our society and our homes...and our very souls.
Is there a cure for such cancers as these? Is there any surgery or therapy that can stem the tide of the abnormal growth of these heart-damaging cells? Yes, there is...a four letter word that covers a multitude of sins and completely changes the heart and mind of the unwitting victim of this disease...LOVE.
"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.
But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away." I Corinthians 13:4-8
"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three;
but the greatest of these is LOVE."
I Corinthians 13: 11-13
Lord, Help me to LOVE like You love. Help me to put away my childish things...the "abnormal cells" of wrong thinking and acting out when I don't get my way...the need to always be "in control" in my life and in others' lives too...the need to always be right when I ought to recognize that I just may be wrong (did I say that?). Yes, Lord, help me to LOVE like You love.
Amen.
