In the article The wisdom that comes from God, we spoke about that wisdom which comes from God the Father and which every believer should seek, value, and treasure. Wisdom allows us to discern what is right, to walk prudently, and to make decisions that honor the Lord. Today, however, we will focus on another essential virtue that must walk hand in hand with wisdom: love. Without love, wisdom can become cold, proud, or harsh. But when wisdom is guided by love, it becomes a powerful instrument for unity, edification, and genuine service within the body of Christ.
To truly understand and help other people, we need both wisdom and love. Wisdom helps us discern truth, while love helps us apply that truth with grace and patience. Many conflicts among believers arise not because truth is absent, but because love is lacking. When love governs our interactions, we are able to listen, to forgive, to correct gently, and to bear one another’s burdens. This is how unity in the Spirit is preserved.
The title of this article, United in love, was chosen intentionally, because unity in love is not merely a suggestion or a good idea—it is a command from the Lord. Scripture teaches us that love is the defining mark of those who truly belong to God. If we love, it is because we have known God, and if we have known God, His love dwells within our hearts.
Unity in love is not uniformity. God did not create us all the same, nor did He intend for us to think, speak, or act identically in every matter. Unity in love means that despite our differences, we are bound together by a shared faith, a shared hope, and a shared devotion to Christ. Love allows diversity to exist without division.
When believers are united in the Lord, they become stronger. Unity helps the Church stand firm against every plan of the enemy. Satan thrives on division, resentment, and misunderstanding. But when the people of God are united in love, his strategies fail. Unity becomes a spiritual weapon that allows the Church to overcome in the name of the Lord.
Throughout Scripture, we see that God values unity deeply. Jesus Himself prayed that His followers would be one, just as He and the Father are one. This unity was not based on human effort alone, but on shared love, shared truth, and shared submission to God’s will. Where love reigns, unity flourishes.
In the letter to the Colossians, the apostle Paul addresses this very issue. He writes to a church that was facing false teachings and internal pressures that threatened their spiritual stability. Paul understood that doctrinal confusion and pride could easily divide the believers if love was not preserved. Therefore, he emphasizes the importance of unity rooted in love.
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians 2:2-3
These verses reveal a profound truth. Paul desires that the hearts of believers be comforted, strengthened, and encouraged. But notice how this comfort comes: by being knit together in love. Love is the bond that unites hearts. It is the spiritual thread that holds the body of Christ together, even in times of difficulty or disagreement.
Paul connects unity in love with spiritual understanding. When believers are united in love, they grow in assurance, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ. Division clouds understanding, but love brings clarity. This is because pride blinds, while love humbles. A humble heart is able to receive truth more clearly.
In Christ, Paul says, are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. This means that true wisdom is not found in human philosophy, personal opinions, or intellectual superiority, but in Christ Himself. And if Christ is the center, love must also be the foundation, because Christ is the perfect expression of God’s love.
The Colossians were exhorted to maintain unity in the love of Christ because they were at risk of being led astray by teachings that appealed to human pride and spiritual elitism. When believers begin to exalt their own knowledge or experiences above love, division inevitably follows.
Why were these believers urged to remain united? Because unity in love brings mutual comfort. When one believer suffers, others are called to come alongside and encourage. When one falls, others help restore. Love creates an environment where healing, growth, and perseverance are possible.
Unity in love also protects the Church from fragmentation. Without love, differences turn into conflicts. With love, differences become opportunities for growth. Love teaches us to be patient with those who are weaker in faith and humble with those who are stronger.
It is important to understand that unity does not mean compromising truth. Paul never encouraged unity at the expense of sound doctrine. Rather, he taught that truth must be upheld in love. Love does not silence truth, and truth does not cancel love. The two must coexist.
In practical terms, being united in love means choosing forgiveness over resentment, humility over pride, service over self-interest. It means speaking truth with gentleness and correcting with compassion. It means seeking the good of the body rather than personal recognition.
The Church today needs this message more than ever. In a world marked by division, polarization, and hostility, believers are called to be different. Unity in love becomes a powerful testimony to the world that Christ truly lives among His people.
Dear brothers and sisters, let us strive to be united in love. Let us seek wisdom from God and apply it with compassion. Let us guard our hearts against pride and division, remembering that we are members of one body.
If we remain united in the love of Christ, we will be strengthened, comforted, and established in truth. We will overcome the schemes of the enemy and glorify God together. May the Lord help us to live out this calling daily, walking in wisdom, humility, and love, for the glory of His name.