St Paul's words encourage the Corinthians to love sincerely by giving - "But since you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you-see that you also excel in this grace of giving" (v7). Nowadays, the word love is so loosely used that it has lost its real value. Granted that there are varied notions of love, many see this word as a commodity. People who are influencers love their subscribers so long as they remain loyal, supportive and attached to them; they don't have any real love for their subscribers and very often, their online and actual persona are two different manifestations. There are even services that allow people to rent a boyfriend, a girlfriend and even a family by selecting who they want and paying accordingly. Love has been reduced to a transaction.

We are called to love unconditionally, as Christ did. There should not be a price tag to the love that we offer. Expect no monetary reward. This is the witness that we need to show to the world - that true love is priceless. No one said it will be easy. It is true the closer the enemy is to us, the harder it is for us to love, but love them we must, as Jesus commands (v44-46).

Let the perfect love of God work through us so that this love will touch all those who encounter us.