1 Corinthians 13
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.
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.
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.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
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.
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child , I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
1 Cor. 4-7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self - seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (NIV)
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
(Message Bible)
SO WHAT IS THIS THING CALLED LOVE?
Five Greek words are translated Love:
1. Epithumia describes a love based on a strong desire and many times associated with lust or coveting.
2. Eros which describes erotic love. It refers to sexual love.
3. Storge which refers to family love, the kind of love between a parent and child, or in general between family members.
4. Philia refers to brotherly friendship and affection. It is the love referring to deep friendship and partnership; and the highest love of which man is capable of apart from God.
5. Agape describes a love that loves without ever changing. It is gives without making demands or expecting re-payment. It is love so great that it can be given to the unlovable or unappealing. It is love that loves even when it is rejected. Agape love gives, and loves because it wants to; it does not demand or expect repayment from the love given. It is the ability to love the unlovable and is not controlled by emotions or feelings but will. It is sacrificial, self denying, deliberate. It does not require response or reaction to exist but remains steadfast against all obstacles.
4 Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
6 It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. (Amplified)
suffereth long...have (long) patience, be patient, patiently endure.
is kind...to show oneself useful, i.e. act benevolently:
envieth not... to have warmth of feeling ... against
vaunteth not itself...to boast
is not puffed up...in the primary sense of blowing; to inflate, i. e. (figuratively) make proud (haughty) Doth not behave itself unseemly...to be (i.e. act) unbecoming
seeketh not her own...selfish desires and self worship
is not easily provoked...not easily exasperated or angry
thinketh no evil...bears no malice or record of wrongs
Rejoiceth not in iniquity...not happy about injustice or wrong doing, no complacency.
Love is extremely patient especially with the slow and awkward. It does not make a mockery of a person's handicaps and shortcomings, but rather seeks to help them in their efforts to overcome. It always is ready to act benevolently towards others, and tries to be useful rather than critical.
There is no envy or jealousy in the witnessing of a brother's promotion but rather a rejoicing and an effort to help the brother (or sister) towards success if it is possible.
Love is not given to boasting. A person with an inferiority complex will always be trying to put down another in an effort to seem good. Their every conversation will be full of one topic only, themselves. There will be a constant boasting albeit in subtle ways of their achievements and accomplishments. God never gets the glory. It is always what they did to earn what they have.
Love does not do this but rather keeps a modest and humble attitude about their own accomplishments submerging it to the common good.
Love is neither rude nor vexatious to the spirit. It does not behave in unseemly ways so as to cause others to be embarrassed at their attitude.
There is no malice or selfish desire in love. It remains unprovoked in stressful situations and does not burst out in exasperation and anger because it does not get its way.
It does not rejoice in the downfall of a brother and is not happy about injustice or wrong doing. There is no self complacency at someone else's misfortune...
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 1 Corinthians 13:7 KJV
SO WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT?
1. IT’S THE DEFINING CHARACTERISTIC OF A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST: By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:35 KJV
2. IT’S THE DEMANDED COURSE OF A HUSBAND FOR HIS WIFE: Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; Ephesians 5:25 KJV
3. IT’S THE DIVINE COMMAND OF CHRIST TO HIS DISCIPLES: This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. John 15:12-14 KJV
Jesus is a supreme example of love in action. Remember...God is Love...so what is God like?
Remember also that we are expected to confirm to His image. So what should we be like?
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:7-12 KJV
