The Word of the Day is Bankrupt
Scripture:
“If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have, doesn’t strut, doesn’t have a swelled head, doesn’t force itself on others, isn’t always ‘me first,’ doesn’t fly off the handle, doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, doesn’t revel when others grovel, takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, puts up with anything, trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end.”
— 1 Corinthians 13:3–7 (MSG)
When Love Runs Out
Have you ever felt like you were doing all the right things—serving, giving, showing up—but still felt spiritually empty inside? The Apostle Paul calls this being bankrupt without love. It’s a powerful phrase that reminds us that no amount of good deeds or sacrifices can replace the genuine love of Jesus that flows through us.
To be spiritually bankrupt is to live on the surface of faith—busy with activity but missing the heart. True love, the kind that mirrors God’s character, is patient, kind, humble, and enduring. It keeps no record of wrongs and never gives up. Love is what fills our efforts with eternal meaning. Without it, even the most noble acts lose their power.
Love is the actual currency of heaven. It enriches our relationships, deepens our service, and sustains our faith. When we let love lead, we move from spiritual emptiness to abundance.
Reflection Questions
1. In what areas of my life have I been serving or giving without love leading the way?
2. What relationships might reveal where my heart has grown empty or cold?
3. How can I invite God’s love to refill and realign my motives this week?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, show me where I’ve been running on empty—doing good without being rooted in Your love. Fill my heart with compassion, grace, and patience. Teach me to love like You do—freely, humbly, and without limits. Let my words, actions, and faith overflow with Your love so that others see You in me. Amen. Amen and Amen.
Takeaway:
Love is the only measure of true spiritual wealth—without it, we’re bankrupt; with it, we’re rich beyond measure.
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