Built to Last — Love That Endures

This closing message in Built to Last works through 1 Corinthians 13, calling it the most beautiful, most quoted, and most misunderstood passage on love, and distinguishing covenant from contract. The teaching presents enduring love as a daily decision rather than a feeling, modeled by Jesus in Gethsemane who chose obedience over His own desire. Love forgives and keeps no record of wrongs, releasing what is called the grip of the grudge as Christ forgave us first. It protects a covenant, a solemn binding promise of mutual sacrifice, rather than a contract of mutual benefit that can be voided when expectations go unmet. Persevering love is pictured as a deep-rooted tree and a cord of three strands (Ecclesiastes 4:12) with God as the third strand. The call is one concrete action to strengthen the covenant this week.