We are given some characteristics of love in 1 Corinthians 13. We know that love is patient, kind, does not envy, does not boast, is not arrogant, is not rude, does not insist on its own way, is not irritable, is not resentful, does not rejoice at wrongdoing, rejoices with the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.
As I mentioned last week, we are talking about God’s love. Agape love is volitional first and emotional second. This is the form of love that is to be brought into our lives as a fruit of the Holy Spirit. By the Grace of God, we exercise our will to express love in a way that is patient and kind without envy. God’s love is emotional but emotion does not rule it. One especially tragic lack of Agape Love is in marriage. In a secular marriage, two people make a volitional commitment (as statement of their intention) to love until death driven by an emotional bond. Consequently when emotions change then they no longer have any volition (will) to remain married and the marriage ends. A secular marriage would be better summarized as “till death due us part as long as I feel like it” but that would sort of crush the mood. For a Christian, we experience all the emotions but we should enter into the commitment with a clear knowledge that we are committing our will and we actually intend to exercise our volition (our will) “till death due us part” and will walk that walk even when our emotions fluctuate. In other words, our volition leads our emotion. That is the Agape Love brought to life by the Holy Spirit in our hearts.
Within the LOTR one of the most outstanding examples of love that rises to the level of Agape and patterns it for us is the love of Sam Gamgee for Frodo. His commitment to Frodo was made as a result of the command of Gandalf as “punishment” for eavesdropping in a land without eaves as Sam quickly pointed out. Sam was found by Gandalf when he choked after hearing that Frodo would need to leave the Shire. It was a willing commitment because Sam loved Frodo. Frodo tried to leave Sam as the Fellowship of the Ring was broken but Sam’s devotion prevented him leaving on his on and also prevented a failure in the quest to destroy the Ring. Remember that Sam saved Frodo after his fight with Shelob and capture by orcs. Sam even briefly became a ring bearer when Frodo was unable to be ring bearer.
“In that hour of trial it was the love of his master that helped most to hold him firm; but also deep down in him lived still unconquered his plain hobbit-sense: he knew in the core of his heart that he was not large enough to bear such a burden, even if such visions were not a mere cheat to betray him. The one small garden of a free gardener was all his need and due, not a garden swollen to a realm; his own hands to use, not the hands of others to command.” (LOTR 3.177)Sam’s love for Frodo was tested as Frodo became more and more burdened by carrying the ring. Frodo did not always trust Sam and was not always lovable to Sam. Sam was challenged to bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. When he saved Frodo, saved his sword, saved the phial of Galadriel, and (most importantly) saved the Ring of Power from falling into the hands of the enemy, Sam holds it out to return it to Frodo. He even offers to share the burden but Frodo says;
‘No, no!’ cried Frodo, snatching the Ring and chain from Sam’s hands. ‘No you won’t, you thief!’ He panted, staring at Sam with eyes wide with fear and enmity’ (LOTR 3.188)Sam weeps but he does not stop loving Frodo. It wasn’t the only trial of his love for Frodo either. Remember that Frodo tried to send Sam home because he didn’t tolerate Gollum but Sam’s love for Frodo, and concern for what Gollum would do to Frodo, turned him around and brought him back.
There is a picture of Spirit filled intercession in Sam carrying Frodo up the slopes of Mount Doom:
Sam looked at him and wept in his heart, but no tears came to his dry and stinging eyes. ‘I said I’d carry him, if it broke my back,’ he muttered, ‘and I will!’Sam couldn’t take the burden from Frodo but he could lift them both up and carry them up the mountain.
‘Come, Mr. Frodo!’ he cried. ‘I can’t carry it for you, but I can carry you and it as well. So up you get! Come on, Mr. Frodo dear! Sam will give you a ride. Just tell him where to go, and he’ll go.’ (LOTR 3.219)
Summary
The virtues are not independent from each other. Conceptually we can view the Theological Virtues with Love at the apex ruling the Cardinal Virtues through Faith and Hope. So first is Love then, through Faith and Hope to Prudence and then on to Temperance, Justice, and Courage. I’d encourage you to meditate on these virtues any time but especially as you read the LOTR or view the movies.
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