Sunday, October 6, 2013

PPP Day 6: For the Love


So, when you are running around, doing your everyday things and the same Scripture keeps popping up, I'm here to tell you: that is the Holy Spirit's way of telling you to sit up and take notice. That Scripture for me this week was 1 Corinthians 13. It first appeared in my Bible study homework and then, of course, we actually discussed in Bible study. Then, with a completely different subject, it came up in Life Group (Sunday School for us old-fashioned folks) this morning. So, I definitely had to search my heart and realize that I had some work to do in that area.

I adore all of the Word. However, in a lot of ways, 1 Corinthians 13, the "love chapter" has been a little overused in my mind, a little too watered down and cliched. Not that it wasn't important, but I just got tired of hearing it quoted for everything and abused frequently. But this week it really came alive to me, and the Lord used it to show me some things I need to be working on.

But before I lose you and you start to wonder if I got confused about the title of this post, I did not. All of this came together to get me thinking about how this all applies to party planning. Because if we are doing everything in love, isn't party planning an "everything"? And isn't the love for people the real reason we should want to have a party and celebrate them?

Just in case you aren't quite as familiar with 1 Corinthians 13, let me refresh your memory with this part:

"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,but do not have love, I gain nothing. 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 13:1-8a


So for today a very simple message: if you are throwing a party, and you are doing it to impress your friends and astound your acquaintances, then you are doing it for the wrong reason. If you are putting time and energy into planning a celebration so that you can be better than others, post it on your blog and get tons of page views and repins on Pinterest, you might want to rethink your motivation.

 Parties, for a believer, should be about showing love (as should everything in our lives). If we really want to show love then we will know that it doesn't have to be perfect from the standpoint of the world. We will see it a little more like this: 
The party I'm planning is a way to be kind. I don't need to envy beautiful parties on the Internet, or in magazines, or that friends have thrown. I won't boast about my skills, or be prideful, because this is not about me. It is about honoring those the party is for, and I don't need to seek fulfillment for myself from it, or get angry and frustrated by what I need to do, or what I can't. Throwing this party is a way to show my love for this person (or people). If I am doing this out of true, godly love, I can't fail.

That may sound trite, and you make think I am a total nut for trying to make this into something about God. But I think that it is so much more than that. Why put so much time and effort into something that isn't going to glorify God? Another great verse from Corinthians (that Paul was a pretty smart guy)

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31

We glorify God by loving others because God is love (1 John 4:8b). Doing things in love is doing them the godly way. Don't be fooled-even planning a party is an opportunity to love. Don't let the details stress you out so that you miss the point. Do it for the love. 

This is Day 6 of  "31 Days of Perfect Party Planning". See the rest of the posts here.

3 comments:

  1. This hit home! I am not a party planner or great at decor yet I have offered to host a baby shower for a friend. Now, I am up racking my brain for a theme and how I'm going to pull this off! With love is how! Jodie

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    1. Truly, when it comes to party planning it is really the thought that counts. I'm sure they will be thrilled no matter what you do.:)

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  2. What an awesome perspective on those verses in such a practical way! Thanks for sharing this. :)

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