After going through the Ten Commandments, let's again remind ourselves what all the commandments are about: love.

When you're a child learning math, some multiplication facts are hard to remember. But those with zero in them are easy: 0 x 1 = 0; 0 x 3 = 0; 0 x 87 = 0; zero times anything equals zero. Simple, right? When it comes to evaluating our actions, the math is also simple. The final value of any action equals that action multiplied by the love you have. If you have zero love, then anything you do, no matter how great it might seem, amounts to zero.

Some Corinthian Christians were proud of supernatural speech, prophetic insight, and mountain-moving miracles; they felt superior to those who weren't such superstars. But even if their powers were real, what did they amount to without love? Zero! Even giving money to the poor or dying as a martyr would amount to nothing if it were done only to be a hero and not out of love for God and others.

Evaluating your life isn't a matter of addition. You don't add up various spiritual abilities and good deeds, and then increase the sum a bit if love is added, or keep it the same if love isn't added. No, love is a multiplier. If the love factor is zero, it reduces everything else to zero. However, if love is present, it multiplies the value of everything else.

PRAYER--Spirit of the living God, move among us all; make us one in heart and mind, make us one in love: humble, caring, selfless, sharing. Spirit of the living God, fill our lives with love. Amen.