Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
Colossians 3:14
We know Paul believes in Love, see 1Corinthians 13, so what is love? It is putting others ahead of yourself, not because they deserve it, but because of what Jesus has done for you. Paul is telling his readers that unity does not come from the absence of disagreement, but it comes from deferment. Simply put, unity comes at your expense. Love is not “you give a little and I give a little and we’ll meet in the middle,” love gives completely, whether or not the other person budges an inch. Love is hard, love is work… but love is worth it. This is not a call to compromise on core principles, or to be a pushover who gets run over… However, realize that unity, in a family, a church, or any other group, comes not when we “get our way” but when we defer to others for the sake of all, that’s what Jesus did.
