Romans 13:8-10 // Love is Law

 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (Romans 13:8-10)

He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die. He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord, and that which he hath given will he pay him again. (Proverbs 19:16-17)

And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus. (Acts 15:37-39)

The law is not usually something that gets compared to love, yet Paul says that the law is ultimately just a carefully enumerated description of love. Paul himself was not a flawless adherent, here in Acts he is documented quarrelling with his mentor and fellow missionary. Rather than conceding to his elder, Paul goes off on his own. Paul will eventually soften in his stance toward Mark, but I'm not aware he ever admitted he was wrong. Just because someone has a people problem doesn't make him lost or useless to God. But we must say with Paul, O wretched man that I am!

Paul did not love perfectly, though when he wanted to, he could show that his human righteousness was more than yours. So don't declare Paul to be a lost cause, praise the Lord that Paul knew he was loved by God despite his faults, and that God can demonstrate his love, even through Paul, or us.