The Greatest of These is Love
Feb 14 2025 - Eric Buresh
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor. 13:13
Tucked away at the end of the “love chapter,” in a single verse, the Apostle Paul sets before us the triad of Christian virtues: faith, hope, and love. These three are the pillars upon which the Christian life is built, the evidence of grace at work in the soul, and the marks of those who walk with God. Today, I wish to show you how these three virtues are interwoven, each building upon the other, culminating in the highest virtue of love.
Faith is the foundation. Without faith, there can be no hope, no love. Faith is the hand that reaches out to grasp the promises of God. It is the eye that looks beyond the seen to the unseen, trusting in the character and word of our Lord. Faith says, “Though I do not see, yet will I believe.” “Without faith it is impossible to please God,” says the writer of Hebrews. Thus, faith is the bedrock. Faith is not stagnant. As we walk with the Lord and as we study His Word (faith comes through hearing the Word of God), our faith grows. This growing faith naturally leads to the next virtue: hope.
Hope springs from faith. It is the confident expectation that God will do what He has promised. Hope is the anchor that holds us firm amidst the storms of life. It is not a wishful thinking or a mere desire, but a sure and steadfast confidence that God is working all things for our good. When trials come, hope reminds us that our story is not yet finished, and that the best is yet to come. As our hope grows, we become less entangled with the cares of this world. We are freed from anxiety because we trust in God’s providence. This confidence, this freedom from self-concern, naturally leads to the third and greatest virtue: love.
If faith is the root and hope the fruit, love is the flower in full bloom. It is the greatest because it is the very nature of God Himself. “God is love,” says the Apostle John. To love is to be like God. When we trust God (faith) and are confident in His care (hope), we are freed to look beyond ourselves. No longer burdened by fear or insecurity, we can pour ourselves out in love for others. Faith leads us to trust, hope assures us of God’s care, and love compels us to act for the good of others, even at great personal cost.
Why is love the greatest? Because it is eternal. Faith and hope are necessary in this life, but in heaven, faith will give way to sight, and hope will be fulfilled. But love? Love will continue forever. Love is the atmosphere of heaven, the defining characteristic of God and God’s people for all eternity. Moreover, love is the mark of true discipleship. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
Faith, hope, and love abide. They are the essential elements of the Christian life. But the greatest of these is love, for love brings us into the likeness of our Savior, binds us together as His people, and will endure forever in His glorious presence. May we grow in faith, that our hope might be steadfast, and may our hope be so firm that our love flows freely and sacrificially. And as we love, may we reflect the very heart of God, for “God is love.”