"My work" is thought provoking. I work for God with people. No two weeks
are alike. God constantly increases my insights, and persons are never
alike. Combining the work of our unique God with the needs of unique people
makes each week unique.
Last week cancer claimed Stan Spainhour's physical body. His friends would
tell us quickly that cancer never claimed Stan's life. He refused to allow
cancer to take charge of his life. His faith and his attitude in the last
fourteen months were a challenge and inspiration. Though he was very sick,
he refused to stop being Stan.
Last week I was privileged to be with those who loved him in Fort Smith. I
was privileged to be with those who loved him in Witchita Falls, Texas.
Even after death, Stan provided me the time and opportunity for reflection
from an unusual perspective.
In my reflection an obvious truth stood out. If you do not have love, you
do not have anything. The abundance of love makes a person wealthy.
"Things" cannot make a person wealthy. We leave "things" behind. We take
love with us.
Love's wealth is unique. You must have love to have love's wealth. You
cannot buy love. You cannot force love to exist. You cannot demand love.
You cannot "fake" having love. You cannot borrow love. The only way to
have love is to give love. The more love that you share the more love that
you receive.
As unique as love's wealth is, people know it exists. People are starved
for love! They prize love's wealth! When they do not have love and its
wealth [and many do not!], people go to unusual extremes to find and possess
them. Do you doubt that? If you don't have love, what would you give for
it? If you have it, for what would you sell it?
The greatest gift you can give is love. The greatest power you have to
alter life is found in your power to love. The greatest treasure you will
leave behind is your love. Nothing contains the power or the influence of
love. And every person has the ability to love!
While love is this earth's greatest power, it is also this earth's most
neglected reality. Why should that surprise us? Love is from God, and this
world neglects everything that comes from God. Do you want to increase love
in your life? Get closer to God.
Now abide faith, hope, and love, these three; but the greatest of these is
love (1 Corinthians 13:13).
Link to next article
Link to other Writings of David Chadwell