You may have the best of what this world has to offer. Your career path may have led you to that high-paying job with its position of power and responsibility. The motor vehicle that you drive may reflect that salary, as well as the garage that you park it in and the house that is attached to that garage. Your neighborhood may be safe from crime and populated with individuals and families that are virtual clones of yourself. You wouldn't be caught dead in clothes purchased from a Salvation Army thrift store, or even a Wal-Mart or K-Mart. Of course, this life may have its pressures and its stresses, but your recreation is high-end and high-time, and that's how those stresses are relieved.

But, if you don't have love, it profits you nothing.

How often do you kiss your husband and speak the words "goodnight honey" just to roll over and think about that handsome young man that you met during the day? You know who I mean; his hair was thick and perfect. His skin was tanned and his custom-tailored suit fit his trim body flawlessly. His teeth gleamed in a manner generally seen only on toothpaste commercials and he himself looked like he stepped off of the set of a popular television soap. Oh, and wasn't he charming? And, didn't he seem attracted to you? These thoughts in and of themselves make it hard for you to sleep, let alone the snoring of your chubby, middle-aged, balding husband who owns a suit that ceased fitting him a few years ago.

Try to remember that love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy.

She just isn't that "hottie" that you fell in lust, er, I mean love with ten years ago, is she? Over beers when she wasn't around, you and your buddies would discuss her physical attributes and high level of performance. Your buddies would remark how lucky you were, and you'd respond with braggadocios statements such as "hey, what can I say? I just got it, ya know?"

Now, after marriage and the berthing of your two children she's maintained a few extra pounds. Additionally, there are a few stretch marks on her belly, a little jiggle on her thighs and some crow's feet around her eyes. She doesn't do it for you like she used to. Your eyes and thoughts are wandering and your actions may soon follow. You're still a handsome, opportunistic guy and you remind your buddies: "I'm married but I'm not dead."

Love does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, and thinks no evil.

Your son is nine years old and your daughter is five. They are crushed when you sit them down to tell them that you and mommy are getting divorced. Your son is stung hard and left speechless, as he knows what the word means and feels the burn of its impact. You explain to your daughter that you are moving away because you and mommy don't love each other anymore. You've never seen your precious little doll cry so hard. It's then that your soon to be ex-wife blurts out "but mommy still loves daddy and wants to make it work!" You just want this dramatic scene to close so you can get on to more pleasurable pursuits like your "hot" new girlfriend, who is by the way the wife of a chubby, middle-aged, balding man who loves her and has no idea of what she's been up to in recent weeks.

You may have forgotten that love does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Maybe you never knew?

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Indeed, the greatest of these is love. If Jesus Christ is the Lord of your life and your relationship, it will be built on the rock -- He is that rock -- and able to withstand human imperfection, failures, shortcomings, and the turbulence and temptation of this world.