Love is the Key

Bible Book: 1 Corinthians 13

Subject: Love; Valentine's Day

Introduction

Have you ever thought about how easy it is for people to misrepresent themselves to others? I suppose a certain amount of that is normal under certain conditions. For instance, I may feel like death warmed over. But if I’m walking through the mall, and someone asks me how I’m doing, I’m not going to say, “Oh, I feel about half dead. Thanks. And yourself?” No, I’m going say, “Fine! How are you?” Why would I do that? Because I realize that the passing stranger isn’t really interested in knowing how miserable I feel at that moment. He is simply extending a common courtesy — he is merely practicing a social grace. In other words, it is a matter of courtesy to acknowledge a stranger when our eyes meet, but often their inquiry, as well as our response, is mere sentiment without substance. Both of us were simply being polite, and no more.

The truth of the matter is that we humans can practice “sentiment without substance” with our actions, as well as our acknowledgments. The fact is that we can do all the right things for all the wrong reasons. I dare say that we’ve all been guilty of this at some time or the other.

Paul contended that there should be one foundational reason for all the Christian does in his or her service for Christ, as well as for others: Love. Christian love is the key to acceptable service for the Savior. Let me reiterate: Service apart from Christian love is little more than sentiment without substance. That doesn’t mean that we should stop doing good things, or stop serving others, but that we should evaluate our motives for doing what we do. God’s Word says, “Blessed are the pure in heart…” (Matt.5: 8a). We are also exhorted to, “…see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently” (1 Peter 1:22b). As we look at First Corinthians 13, which is commonly referred to as the “Love Chapter” of the Bible, we will come to understand just how important a godly love is to all that we do for Christ.

I. The Value Of Love

Love Is The Key to Our Ministry

A. Loveless Preaching Is Prattle

Love is the power of our preaching.

1 Corinthians 13:1, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”

This verse could be paraphrased as follows, “Though I can speak ever so eloquently, using such beautiful words that my oratory is ranked with the best of men and of angels, and yet I do not speak from a heart of love, my words would be nothing more than noise. What I said would be without strength.”1

The idea behind the phrase “…sounding brass and tinkling cymbal” (v. 1b) is, “that of a man all sound and noise, without any genuine worth.”2 “This meant originally to sound the war-cry, and then came to be used of other loud, harsh sounds.”3

Folks, there are men mounting pulpits these days who possess magnificent oratorical skills, and who preach what might sound like a biblical sermon, but they preach with hatefulness and haughtiness. They tend to browbeat the backslidden, and the lost sinner, rather than preaching from a heart of love and concern. Let me illustrate what I mean with this true story: Years ago I was the Associate Pastor of a church in Camden, Arkansas. Shirley and I were asked to go to Triple S Bible Camp with the young people of the church. The preachers asked to preach to the teens and youth workers were very abusive in their approach. One preacher referred to women who wore slacks, as heifers, and even labeled some of the women there as such. It was all I could do to keep from jumping up and taking my heifer home, right then and there.

Another one of the preachers spotted a 15 year-old boy in the audience with rather long hair, while he was preaching. He publicly made fun of the young man from the pulpit, and humiliated him before the crowd. I’ll never forget how sorry and embarrassed I felt for that young man.4

B. Loveless Piety Is Pretense

Love is the T.N.T. of our spiritual gifts and talents.

1 Corinthians 13:2, “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”

Verse two could be paraphrased like this, “Though I have the ability to preach, and understand all the mysteries of salvation, and have enough faith to perform miracles, and yet, do not have love, I am nothing.”5

It’s interesting that the Greek word translated “nothing” does not mean, “…nobody, but an absolute zero (A.T. Robertson, op. cit., IV, 177).”6 When will we ever learn that it isn’t enough to just know the right facts, and have all the right equipment? We must be energized by the love of God “…shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Rom. 5:5b).

C. Loveless Practices Are Profitless

Love is the dynamite of our deeds.

1 Corinthians 13:3, “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”

Verse three can be paraphrased this way, “And though I give away everything I own to feed the poor, and though I am so self-sacrificing that I give my body to be burned as a sacrifice, and have not love, I will receive no credit for what I have done.”7

A lot of folks are doing all the right things for all the wrong reasons, such as guilt, popularity, reputation, or to fulfill some supposed sense of obligation. The only right reason for our personal sacrifices and beneficence is God’s reason for sending His Son to die for our sins: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son…” (John 3: 16a). “To give life meaning, one must have a purpose larger than one's self.”8 The only thing that gives life real meaning is your love for God, which results in loving others. When we become focused only inward, we become small and bitter people.

Folks, the question today is not so much, “Are you serving the Lord” as it is, “Why do you serve the Lord?”

“Why do you do what you do?”

“Why do you come to church on Sunday?”

“Why do you try to live an honest and decent life?”

Is it because you truly love Jesus, or are you merely going through the motions?

When North Korea fell to the communists, all the Christians in a small village were ordered to go at once to their church. The building was plain and simple, and the people had placed a picture of Christ on the wall. When the soldiers walked in, they took it down and put it on the floor. All who did not want to be shot had to come forward and spit on the picture. The first four people did and were set free. Next came a young girl. She bent down and wiped the spittle from the picture. Then she embraced it tenderly and said, “Jesus, I love You!” She was taken outside, and the sound of shots was heard.9

II. The Virtue Of Love

Love Is The Key To Our Relationships

1 Corinthians 8:1b, “…Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.”

Divine love is not blind to reality; rather it chooses to show love and acceptance in spite of the obvious flaws in others. The world’s brand of so-called love is conditional, while divine love is unconditional. The sad reality is often that we see far too much worldliness in our churches today.

It was Jonathan Swift, the satirical author of Gulliver’s Travels, who said, “We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.”10

“It has well been said that love is the ‘circulatory system’ of the body of Christ.”11 We must never forget that love is what makes every spiritual gift of the Church effective. Apart from the energizing effect of divine love, the spiritual gifts are merely religious activity, without lasting effectiveness. In 1 Corinthians 12: 7, as well as 1 Corinthians 14: 3, 5, 12, 17, & 26, Paul made it very clear that the spiritual gifts were for the edification (building up) of the Church. Apart from divine love, the gifts become a means of self-edification, which is nothing more than bringing attention to one’s self.

A. Love’s Righteousness.

1. Godly love is patient and kind.

1 Corinthians 13:4a, “Charity suffereth long, and is kind…”

The words “suffereth long” are derived from a Greek word meaning, “to be long-spirited…forbearing…patient…be longsuffering…patiently endure.”12 The idea implied by this word is, “…the capacity to be wronged and not retaliate.”13 The Christian love of many in the Corinthian church was being tested, in that some church members were taking fellow church members to court (1 Corinthians 6: 8), and the poor were being shown disrespect at the communal meals (1 Corinthians 11: 21-22).

The word translated “kind” basically means, “act benevolently.”14 Rather than retaliating when wronged, Christian love chooses to respond with graciousness and goodness. The thrust of what Paul is saying here is found in his statement to the Thessalonians, where he said, “See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men” (1 Thess.5: 15).

2. Godly love is not envious.

1 Corinthians 13: 4b, “…charity envieth not…”

The Amplified Bible translates this phrase, “…love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy.”15 Christ-like love does not begrudge or resent the blessings of others, but is happy for them.

3. Godly love is not boastful.

1 Corinthians 13:4c, “…charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,”

The idea of the words “…vaunteth not itself…” is that of a person who is a braggart and a showoff.

Paul continues the idea that godly love is not braggadocio, with the words, “…is not puffed up.” The Greek word used here simply means, “…blow up, inflate…in the sense of being ‘puffed’ up with pride.”16 Such a person might be said to have an inflated ego, or one who is ostentatious; the later of which refers to a “showy display, as of wealth, knowledge, etc.; pretentiousness.”17

4. Love is not rude.

1 Corinthians 13:5a, “Doth not behave itself unseemly…”

One commentator explains the idea here with this, “Doth not behave itself unseemly…love never acts out of its place or character; observes due decorum and good manners; is never rude, bearish, or brutish; and is ever willing to become all things to all men, that it may please them for their good to edification.18

Again, The Amplified Bible is helpful here. It translates this part of verse five as follows: “It is not conceited—arrogant and inflated with pride; it is not rude (unmannerly), and does not act unbecomingly.”19

5. Love is not self-centered.

1 Corinthians 13:5b, “…seeketh not her own…”

The NLT translates this phrase with the words, “It does not demand its own way.”20

Likewise, The Amplified Bible renders this phrase much the same way. It says, “Love [God’s love in us] does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking.”21

6. Love doesn’t wear a chip on its shoulder.

1 Corinthians 13:5c, “…is not easily provoked…”

The Greek word translated “provoked” means, “‘to rouse to anger.’”22 The word “easily” does not appear in the original language. However, the Greek language backs up that idea. Wuest renders this phrase, “…is not irritated, provoked, exasperated, aroused to anger.”23

The Amplified Bible renders this phrase, “…it is not touchy or fretful or resentful.”24

The NLT concurs with the previous two renderings with the words, “It is not irritable.”25

B. Love’s Rationale

1. Godly love does not keep revengeful records.

1 Corinthians 13:5d, “…thinketh no evil;”

Paul’s statement takes in a lot of territory. But the bottom line seems to be that godly love does not hold grudges. Love does not keep a running list of every incident of hurt or humiliation inflicted upon it by others. Speaking of this phrase, one writer explains with the following:

The phrase seems to be a very comprehensive one, implying that love is neither suspicious, nor implacable (that which cannot be appeased, pacified, or placated), nor retentive in her memory of evil done. Love writes our personal wrongs in ashes or in water.26

Wuest renders the words “thinketh no evil” with the words, “…does not take into account the evil [which it suffers].”27 The idea seems to be that one who is possessed of godly love does not deal with people on the basis of the wrongs they have committed against them; they don’t wait for the opportunity to repay the wrong done them with something equally hurtful.

Yet another idea involved in Paul’s statement is that of being understanding of the flaws of others. In other words, “Love makes allowances for the falls of others, and is ready to put on them a charitable construction.”28 Barnes apparently agrees with this idea. He indicates that the Christian who is walking according to God’s love won’t automatically assume that a person’s actions or words were intended to do harm. He says:

It [love] is not only “not easily provoked,” not soon excited, but it is not disposed to “think” that there was any evil intention even in cases which might tend to irritate or exasperate us.29

2. Godly love takes pleasure in truth and right.

1 Corinthians 13:6, “Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;”

Godly love takes no pleasure (“malignant joy”30) in seeing the triumph of sin, unrighteousness, or injustice. It takes great joy however, when truth and righteousness prevail. The Amplified Bible includes the ideas of injustice and wrongdoing in its translation of verse six, as follows: “It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.”31

Barnes adds the following thoughts concerning this verse:

Rejoiceth not in iniquity - Does not rejoice over the “vices” of other people; does not take delight when they are guilty of crime, or when, in any manner, they fall into sin. It does not find pleasure in hearing others accused of sin, and in having it proved that they committed it. It does not find a malicious pleasure in the “report” that they have done wrong; or in following up that report, and finding it established. Wicked people often find pleasure in this Rom 1:32, and rejoice when others have fallen into sin, and have disgraced and ruined themselves. People of the world often find a malignant pleasure in the report, and in the evidence that a member of the Church has brought dishonor on his profession.32

3. Godly love covers the faults and failures of others.

1 Corinthians 13:7a, “Beareth all things…”

The idea here is not that love puts up with anything and everything, but that love seeks to cover and conceal the flaws of others, rather than exposing them to the world. Keep in mind that the context of this passage is that of wrongs committed by one Christian brother against another. Paul is not saying that Christians are to conceal the knowledge of serious crimes. The word translated “beareth” implies that, “Love acts as a roof over other people, shielding them from the storm as it sweeps.”33 In like manner, another writer says, “The word used here…properly means to ‘cover’ (from…stege, a covering, roof; Mat 8:8; Luk 7:6); and then to ‘hide,’ ‘conceal,’ not to make known.”34

4. Godly love is not suspicious in nature.

1 Corinthians 13:7b, “…believeth all things…”

The point here is that one who is controlled by God’s love is “not gullible, but has faith in men.”35 The idea is that the child of God should tend to believe the best about people rather than assuming the worst about them. A good rule of thumb is to believe the best about people until there is irrefutable evidence to the contrary.

5. Godly love is optimistic about the good in others.

1 Corinthians 13:7c, “…hopeth all things…”

This phrase is akin to the previous statement. Love is optimistic in spite of appearances to the contrary. Love hopes for the best in people, and for people. Robertson says that love “sees the bright side of things. Does not despair.”36

6. Godly love perseveres in spite of circumstances.

1 Corinthians 13: 7d, “…endureth all things.”

Love “‘remains steadfast in the face of unpleasant circumstances.’”37 As another commentator observes, “Love is steadfast and enduring; it bears, without changing to hatred, hateful things.”38 God’s kind of love is an amazing thing. If we are operating on that level, our circumstances will not master us, for godly love “…endures everything [without weakening].” 39

III. The Victory Of Love

Love Is The Key To Our Victory

1 Corinthians 13:8-10, 13, “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

Three things will abide forever: faith, hope, and charity (love). One day our faith will become fulfillment; our expectation will become experience; and our love will continue to last.

1 Paraphrased by Rev. Donnie L. Martin.

2 Alvah Hovey, D.D., LL.D., Editor, An American Commentary On The New Testament, published by The American Baptist Publication Society, Los Angeles, CA.; Commentary On The Epistle To The Corinthians, by E.P. Gould, D.D., pg. 111.

3 Ibid, pg. 111.

4 Rev. Donnie L. Martin

5 Paraphrased by Rev. Donnie L. Martin

6 Charles F. Pfeiffer and Everett F. Harrison, Editors, The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; pg. 1251.

7 Paraphrased by Rev. Donnie L. Martin

8 Will Durant.

9 Author unknown. Acquired from www.pastorlife.com.

10 Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Wise, published by Victor Books, Wheaton, Illinois; pg. 130.

11 Ibid, pg. 130.

12 James Strong, S.T.D., LL.D., Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible, published by MacDonald Publishing Company, McLean, Virginia 22101; #3114 in the Greek Dictionary Of The New Testament, pg. 46.

13 John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, Editors, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, published by Victor Books, Wheaton, Illinois; pg. 535.

14 James Strong, S.T.D., LL.D., Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible, published by MacDonald Publishing Company, McLean, Virginia 22101; #5541 in the Greek Dictionary Of The New Testament, pg. 78.

16 W.E. Vine, with Merrill F. Unger and William White, Jr., Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary Of Old and New Testament Words, © 1984 and 1996 by Thomas Nelson, Inc., published by Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN.; pg. 497.

17 Victoria Neufeldt, Editor in Chief, and David B. Guralnik, Editor in Chief Emeritus, Webster’s New World Dictionary Of American English, Third Edition, Copyright © 1988 by Simon & Schuster, Inc., Cleveland & New York; pg. 958.

18 Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible, as recorded in e-Sword software.

22 W.E. Vine, with Merrill F. Unger and William White, Jr., Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary Of Old and New Testament Words, © 1984 and 1996 by Thomas Nelson, Inc., published by Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN.; pg. 496.

28 Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary, as recorded in e-Sword software.

29 Albert Barnes, Albert Barnes’ Notes On The Bible, as recorded in e-Sword software.

32 Albert Barnes, Albert Barnes’ Notes On The Bible, as recorded in e-Sword software.

34 Albert Barnes, Albert Barnes’ Notes On The Bible, as recorded in e-Sword software.

35 A.T. Robertson, Robertson’s Word Pictures, as recorded in e-Sword software.

36 Ibid.

37 John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, Editors, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, published by Victor Books, Wheaton, Illinois; pg. 535.

38 Alvah Hovey, D.D., LL.D., Editor, An American Commentary On The New Testament, published by The American Baptist Publication Society, Los Angeles, CA.; Commentary On The Epistle To The Corinthians, by E.P. Gould, D.D., pg. 112.