Who put the bomp
In the bomp bah bomp bah bomp?
Who put the ram
In the rama lama ding dong?
Who put the bop
In the bop shoo bop shoo bop?
Who put the dip
In the dip da dip da dip?
Who was that man?
I'd like to shake his hand
He made my baby
Fall in love with me
Back then, song lyrics were so much deeper, weren’t they? This morning we’re going to talk about love for a few minutes. We are going to reflect upon a very familiar passage of scripture. It will be a good review, at a time I believe when we need it most.
In between chapter 12, which discusses the gifts that the God has given to His church, (we are all one body with different parts, unity in diversity) and chapter 14 which deals with the use of those gifts, chapter 13 reveals the spirit in which these gifts are to be exercised. And although this wonderful chapter does tie the two together, I believe it can and should stand on its own. Keep in mind, when the Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthian Church, he didn’t include chapters or verse numbers. It was written the same as if we would write a letter today. And I believe this chapter 13, well known as the “Love” chapter, is the finest definition of love we not only have in scripture, but in all published works throughout time.
What is the importance of love? H.A. Ironside, one of the twentieth century’s greatest preachers writes that the word translated “charity” in the King James Version refers not only to the good works and kindness that we associate with charity today, but to the root and source of those good deeds: love. I have mentioned this before; there are three well known Greek words that we translate as “love.” “Eros”, “Phileo” and “Agape.” If you are familiar with Greek mythology, you’ll recognize “Eros” as the name of the god of love, the son of Aphrodite. Eros is the word used in classical Greek for love of sweethearts and love between husband and wife, wife and husband. Phileo is a broader word speaking of a kindly, friendly affection such as the love between friends, or love between children and parents, parents and children, the love of citizens for the country to which they belong. The third word, Agape, speaks of a higher type of love, a love that is all-absorbing, a love that completely dominates one’s whole being. Guess which word Paul uses in chapter 13?
It is interesting that in the writing of the New Testament, the Spirit of God seemed to forbid the use of the word Eros. It is found frequently in the writings of the Greek poets and philosophers, but never in the New Testament. This word has been so abused and degraded by the Greeks that God, as it were, stood over His Book and said to those who were writing, “Do not put that word in here. It is too capable of being misunderstood.” Phileo occurs many times in the New Testament, but only in reference to human friendliness, kindly feelings or brotherly love.
In reference to what is most divine, God carefully chose the word Agape. God is Agape. God’s love is agape love, in the highest, most unselfish sense. This love comes only through God, and not through our own hearts. Listen to the words of the Gospel writer John, Christ’s disciple, the one who Jesus loved. When John wrote his three letters, he was well advanced in age and was the sole remaining apostle who had intimate, eyewitness association with Jesus Christ throughout His earthly ministry, His transfiguration, death resurrection and ascension. John writes in his first letter, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves (with Agape love) is born of God, and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love (Agape love) , not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to take away the sins of the world. If God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. Agape love. Unconditional love that can and does only come from God. So what is love?
In many of the temples there was hanging at the entrance a large cymbal. Often, as the worshippers entered the temple, they struck it, causing a loud noise. Some said the noise was for the purpose of rousing the gods. By the time Paul wrote this letter, the loud ‘gong’ made from striking the symbol had become a symbol for superficial oratory. With this picture in the background, Paul is saying that without love, the finest oratory is nothing more than an empty pagan rite. Our worship should match our conduct and our conduct should match our worship.
Here’s what love is:
Love is patient
Love is kind
Love rejoices in truth
Love bears all things - therefore it protects
Love believes all things – therefore it trusts
Love hopes all things
Love endures all things
Love never fails
Here’s what love is not:
Love is not envious
Love is not proud
Love is not rude
Love is not self centered
Love does not rejoice in lies
Love is not provoked – not angry
Love does not hold grudges
Not does not rejoice in evil
How do we deal with others? How we deal with life? How is our relationship with ourselves? And how is our relationship with God?
Patience:
This comes from two Greek words: “long” and “tempered.” Patience is “self restraint in the face of provocation … the opposite of anger.” Do we get easily frustrated when things don’t go our way or don’t happen fast enough? Do we retaliate easily and quickly against those that hurt us? That’s the opposite of patience. Patience means you wait out trouble and you don’t strike out against adversity. God is certainly patient with us. Think of the life of Jesus.
Kindness:
The Greek word for “kind” means “to show oneself to be useful.” Taking patience one step further – not only are we long tempered against trouble, but we actually reach out with a benefit to someone else. Most of the time we think “what’s in it for me.” But kindness says what can I do to benefit you? That’s love.
Envy:
This comes from the word “to boil.” It’s kind of the bolstered idea of “what’s in it for me,” in the sense of “it’s all about me.” When we become so self focused on anything anyone else has that we don’t have, it makes our blood boil and is the opposite of wanting to benefit another. Envy is when we only want to benefit ourselves at the expense of others.
Pride:
This is the same word Paul uses earlier in his letter – “knowledge puffs up.” It means to inflate – like a bag of hot air – no substance but a lot of fluff. It’s increasing our sense of self importance. I believe pride is at the root of all that is ungodly, all that is evil. CS Lewis called pride the utmost evil. Pride is the love of one’s own excellence. I know, in fact scripture assures us that God hates pride more than anything. If we consider the seven deadly sins, they are lust, gluttony, greed, sloth (laziness), wrath (anger), envy, and pride, and pride is by far the deadliest.
In Proverbs chapter 6, Solomon writes; “There are six things which the Lord hates, actually seven that are an abomination to Him. Haughty eyes (pride), a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers. The first abomination? Pride. Solomon also writes that Pride goes before destruction and, and a proud spirit before a fall. Always.
Keeping no record of wrong:
The suggestion from the original here is thinking poorly of someone else – or really pondering and dwelling on someone else as evil. Do we keep lists. We say we don’t but I think we really do. How quick are we to forgive?
This past week I participated in two funeral services. The first was attended by five people including myself. It was for a middle aged man who gave up on his life. His brother and sister were there, along with a friend of his sisters. I asked them for words that would describe him, and they really had to search. They said, in his profession, he was good at what he did. They only had two distant memories growing up, one from each of them. Here was a man who was a doctor, well educated and had all the possessions he could possibly want. But he alienated everyone he knew. He was selfish and arrogant. In the end he expressed some sorrow for the hurt that he had caused. No other family members attended. He had no friends. He was alone. His death was horrendous and tragic.
The second funeral, yesterday morning, was really a celebration of a life well lived. The memorial was attended by many, many family members, many friends and many people who cared for her. I had the honor of meeting her only once, but long ago I fell in love with her family. I asked for words that would describe her and I heard words such as, loving unconditionally, Godly, caring, patient, interested, full of laughter, tenacious, fun, amazing, and on and on. Marilyn was her name and she was born with Down’s syndrome. During the first week of her life, the doctors told her loving parents she would only live to the age of five. At age ten her doctors said she would not make it through her teenage years. But her family never stopped giving, never stopped loving. This December she would have turned 62 years old. Although Marilyn had disabilities, she lived an incredible Godly, loving life. She passed away peacefully with a smile on her face. She made a difference in countless people’s lives. We will miss her.
Our days are numbered, so please take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer.
Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything.
Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless – cheerfully! Be generous with the different things God has given you, passing them around so all will benefit. If words, let them be God’s Words, if help, let it be God’s hearty help.
That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything you do through Jesus Christ, and God will receive all the credit as the Creator of everything in existence! Praise be to God! (1 Peter 4:7-11)
I
