"PASSAGES TO PONDER"

Qualities Of Love

INTRODUCTION
  1. In this series, we are considering passages worthy of careful reflection...
    1. Such as the "Beatitudes Of The Kingdom" - Mt 5:3-12
    2. Such as the "Defilements Of The Heart" - Mk 7:21-23
  2. Another such passage is 1Co 13:1-13...
    1. Where we find Paul describing what is love
    2. Found in a discussion of spiritual gifts

[What is love? Let's first review the context, in which Paul is addressing a problem at Corinth involving spiritual gifts...]

  1. THE CONTEXT
    1. THE DESCRIPTION OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS...
      1. They all proceed from the same Spirit - 1Co 12:1-11
      2. They all benefit the body of Christ - 1Co 12:12-31
      -- Thus Paul stressed the value of every spiritual gift
    2. THE LIMITATION OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS...
      1. Without love they are meaningless - 1Co 13:1-3
      2. They will eventually cease - 1Co 13:8-13
      -- Thus Paul illustrated the need for more than spiritual gifts
    3. THE EXERCISE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS...
      1. For the purpose of edification - 1Co 14:1-26
      2. Done decently and in order - 1Co 14:27-40
      -- Thus Paul instructed them in the proper use of spiritual gifts

    [It is in this context of spiritual gifts that we find Paul's description of love. Let's now examine...]

  2. THE MEANING
    1. THE NECESSITY OF LOVE...
      1. Necessary in the exercise of spiritual gifts - 1Co 13:1-2
      2. Necessary in the exercise of great sacrifice - 1Co 13:3
      -- With the use of hyperbole, Paul illustrates the necessity of love
    2. THE QUALITIES OF LOVE...
      1. Suffers longs - endures slights and wrongs patiently and long, like God Himself (Ps 103:8) - B. W. Johnson
      2. Is kind - obliging, willing to help or assist - Complete WordStudy Dictionary
      3. Does not envy - is not jealous of what others have or have become - Pulpit Commentary
      4. Does not parade itself - does not brag or boast of one's abilities or possessions - Barnes
      5. Is not puffed up - swelled with pride and elated with a vain conceit of himself - Gill
      6. Does not behave rudely - behave in an ugly, indecent, unseemly or unbecoming manner (cf. 1Pe 3:8, "be courteous") - The Complete WordStudy Dictionary
      7. Does not seek its own - does not seek its own happiness to the injury of others (cf. 1Co 10:24,33) - Barnes
      8. Is not provoked - does not fly into a rage, but keeps the temper under control - B.W. Johnson
      9. Thinks no evil - puts the best possible construction on the motives and the conduct of others; not malicious, censorious, disposed to find fault, or to impute improper motives to others - Barnes
      10. Does not rejoice 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. - ibid.
      11. Rejoices in the truth - lit., "with the truth"; truth is personified as is love, and when love sees truth manifested in the lives of others, love greatly rejoices along with it, cf. 2Jn 4; 3Jn 3-4
      12. Bears all things - lit., "covers, protects"; but as used by Paul elsewhere, it can also mean to endure, suffer (cf. 1Co 9:12; 1Th 3:1,5); thus in regards to the sins or failings of others, there is willingness to bear with them patiently - Barnes
      13. Believes all things - in regard to the conduct of others, there is a disposition to put the best construction on it; to believe that they may be actuated by good motives, and that they intend no injury; and that there is a willingness to suppose, as far as can be, that what is done is done consistently with friendship, good feeling, and virtue. Love produces this, because it rejoices in the happiness and virtue of others, and will not believe the contrary except on irrefragable evidence. - ibid.
      14. Hopes all things - that all will turn out well. This must also refer to the conduct of others; and it means, that however dark may be appearances; how much so ever there may be to produce the fear that others are actuated by improper motives or are bad people, yet that there is a "hope" that matters may be explained and made clear; that the difficulties may be made to vanish; and that the conduct of others may be made to "appear" to be fair and pure. Love will "hold on to this hope" until all possibility of such a result has vanished and it is compelled to believe that the conduct is not susceptible of a fair explanation. This hope will extend to "all things" - to words and actions, and plans; to public and to private contact; to what is said and done in our own presence, and to what is said and done in our absence. Love will do this, because it delights in the virtue and happiness of others, and will not credit anything to the contrary unless compelled to do so. - ibid.
      15. Endures all things - bears up under, sustains, and does not complain. Bears up under all persecutions at the hand of man; all efforts to injure the person, property, or reputation... The connection requires us to understand it principally of our treatment at the hands of our fellowmen. - ibid.
      -- We see that love is best defined by what it does or does not do
    3. THE PERMANENCY OF LOVE...
      1. Love never fails
        1. To fall away, to fail; to be without effect, to cease to be in existence
          1. While other endowments of the Holy Spirit must soon cease and be valueless, love would abide, and would always exist
          2. The "argument" is, that we ought to seek that which is of enduring value; and that, therefore, love should be preferred to those endowments of the Spirit on which so high a value had been set by the Corinthians. - Barnes
        2. Spiritual gifts (e.g., prophecies, tongues, and knowledge) will fail, cease, vanish away - 1Co 13:8-12
          1. Such gifts were to reveal and confirm the Word - cf. Mk 16:19-20; He 2:3-4
          2. Once the Word was completely revealed and confirmed, the need for such gifts ceased - cf. 2Ti 3:16-17; 2Pe 1:3; Jude 3
      2. Love abides
        1. Along with faith and hope - 1Co 13:13a
          1. Spiritual gifts like prophecies, tongues, and knowledge would cease
          2. Yet the virtues of faith, hope and love would "abide" (Grk., meno - remain, dwell, continue, tarry, endure)
          3. Implying a period of time between the cessation of spiritual gifts and the fulfillment of faith and hope
        2. Greater than faith and hope - 1Co 13:13b
          1. We now walk by faith, not by sight - 2Co 5:7
          2. We now hope for what is unseen - Ro 8:24-25
          3. When Christ comes, the need for faith and hope will be no more!
            1. We will then walk by sight, not faith!
            2. We will see that for which we eagerly await, and no longer need hope!
          4. Yet throughout eternity, in the presence of Christ, "love never fails!"
          -- Thus we see the supremacy of love: over spiritual gifts, even over faith and hope!

        [Now for a thought or two regarding...]

  3. THE APPLICATION
    1. WE MUST DESIRE LOVE...
      1. Without love, any ability we have is of little value (such as teaching, preaching, etc.)
      2. Without love, any knowledge we obtain will only hurt us - cf. 1Co 8:1
      3. Without love, any service rendered is not pleasing to God - cf. Re 2:1-5
      -- This makes clear why we should want to love
    2. WE MUST DEVELOP LOVE...
      1. Let God teach us - cf. 1Th 4:9-10
      2. By sending His Son, the Father teaches what it means to love - 1Jn 4:9-11
      3. By coming to this earth, the Son teaches what it means to love - 1Jn 3:16
      -- This makes clear how we can learn to love as we should
    3. WE MUST DEMONSTRATE LOVE...
      1. It's how we show the world we are truly Christ's disciples - Jn 13:34-35
      2. It's how we show the world there is a God, that He truly loves them - Jn 17:20-23
      -- This makes clear why we need to love
CONCLUSION
  1. The heart of man is capable of great things...
    1. Great evil, as seen from the "Defilements Of The Heart" - Mk 7:21-23
    2. Great love, as seen from the "Qualities Of Love" - 1Co 13:1-13
  2. What fruit will our hearts produce...?
    1. Will our hearts be a curse or blessing to those around us?
    2. It all depends on whether we will let Jesus change us

By pondering a passage like 1Co 13:1-13, perhaps it will encourage us to allow Jesus to transform us through the benefits of His sacrificial blood poured out on the cross and the blessings of His sanctifying Spirit poured out on the day of Pentecost... - cf. Tit 3:4-7