Christian Latina Leadership Blog

By Ana Castellano

Para leer la versión en español haga clic aquí 

During the month of February in many countries Valentine’s Day, also known as the day of love and friendship, is celebrated. While it is true that this month offers us the opportunity to celebrate those we love and thank them for their presence in our lives, this month also offers an opportunity to reflect on the theme of love.

As a Christian, I have often read the chapter on love found in 1 Corinthians 13. In doing so, I have asked myself the question of how to apply in my life this concept presented by the Apostle Paul, especially verses 4 through 8:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV).

This text comes after a long exposition on how to serve in the local church using our gifts with humility, avoiding pretending or believing that we are better than other people. In this essay, I want to reflect on how I understand this passage and how I apply it in my life. I invite you to reflect with me.

I want to start with the idea that love is patient. An important lesson I have learned in ministry is to be willing to pay the price. I have learned that there will be people who are not going to like me, including people in the local church. These sisters or co-workers can become stumbling blocks in my ministry. I recognize that winning them over can be very difficult. These experiences help me not to feel more or superior to other people, but to be more careful when speaking or acting. Many times, I have cried, I have distanced myself from people, but I have learned to ask God: What do you want to teach me with this?

I use this question that I have asked myself personally as a tool in my ministry. When I see a sister in trouble, I encourage her to ask God what God wants to teach her today.

Love is kind, it does not envy. As a child of God and a leader in God’s ministry, I must be kind to other sisters and to my co-workers. I must not envy or speak harshly of people behind their backs. If I have something against someone or I do not like their attitude toward me, I should talk to that person and ask them if I did something wrong to them. I admit that sometimes there are people who have been angry with me, and I have not even realized. So, I have learned to listen more than talk. I did not do that before. Also, I used to brag about everything I have studied and my degrees, as if that kept my heart full. The truth is that Christ is the only one who must fill my soul. So, we must ask ourselves every day: Who fills my heart? And based on your answer, you can make the necessary adjustments.

Love does nothing wrong; it does not get angry; it does not hold grudges. I remember that when I was not a Christian I used to say: “The one who does it to me pays for it.” Sisters, even today I have a constant struggle not to get irritated. The good thing is that I can now control my anger faster than before. One of my most constant prayers is that God will help me to be a blessing to others. I have not achieved it one hundred percent, but I am continuing towards the goal. Day by day, step by step, there I go. God’s Word has really helped me to change my ways. This part of love has cost me more than others, but I continue to seek to praise God, one day at a time. Is it something that is difficult for you too?

There is a lot of injustice in this world. I watch the news and sometimes I want to cry because of the things that happen and how many people abuse others without any compassion or kindness. In my work, too, day by day I hear stories of abuse in different ways. I have cried with people as I listened to their stories. At the same time, I am very happy with those people who improve their living conditions. Justice is something God expects of me, and it is something I must learn to do every day.

Love never ceases to be. Love is the greatest privilege we have. God is love (1 John 4:8); and because we have known God, we possess the ability to show a love closer to God’s than the love shown by the world. Love according to the world is full of envy, grudges, boasting, and conceit. It is a supposed love that does improper things, seeks its own benefit, is full of irritability and resentment, rejoices in injustice, endures nothing, believes nothing, does not suffer, expects nothing and will end.

If we want to be leaders who reflect Christ, we must show other people love according to God and not according to the world.

This love according to God is what will give us credibility as Christian leaders. The Bible is clear in saying that we can have all the most precious gifts, the best abilities, but if we do not show God’s love in what we do, what we do is like a loud, clanging noise in the ears of God and the people around us.

A little later this chapter alludes to the idea that when we are children, we do the things of children. However, now that we are grown-up, we must do the things of grown-up people (1 Corinthians 13:11). If we have matured in the Lord, let us do the things of the Lord, not the things of the world. This passage from 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 teaches us this very thing, to be and act as mature daughters of God in the process of sanctification.

I invite you to be ready to use this concept of love that the Apostle Paul left us and to improve our application of it in our daily lives. May God bless us and help us on our way to the common goal: to serve as Christ did until we can see Him face to face.