GROWING UP INTO THE TRUTH
I CORINTHIANS 13: 1-13
MARCH 3, 2002
INTRODUCTION: The Smith’s were proud of their family tradition. Their ancestors had come to America on the Mayflower. Their line had included Senators, Pastors, & Wall Street wizards.
Now they decided to compile a family history, a legacy for the children. They hired a well known author. Only one problem arose: how to handle that great-uncle George who was executed in the electric chair. But the author said not to worry, he could handle that section of history tactfully.
When the book appeared, the family turned to the section on Uncle George.
There, they read "George Smith occupied a chair of applied electronics at an important government institution, was attached to his position by the strongest of ties, & his death came as a real shock."
TRANSITION THOUGHT: Our text for this day is not what it first appears. We all have seen excerpts from this beautiful piece of literature and possibly have a copy of it hung on some wall in our house. I do! But our text is not just a lovie-dovie mushy- gooshy text on falling in love and getting married. Our text is really about growing up as Christians into the TRUTH OF GOD. The Apostle Paul was working with a church that had some real issues concerning just how Christians should treat each other regardless of their Spiritual Giftedness. The Apostle was writing to a church in conflict, but one that thought they had ARRIVED, spiritually speaking. So just what is the Apostle’s advice to us? And just how should we GROW UP INTO THE TRUTH?
TO TELL THE TRUTH: Most of us can sympathize with the fellow who received a call from his wife just as she was about to fly home from Europe. “How’s my cat?” she asked.
“Dead.”
“Oh, honey, don’t be so honest. Why didn’t you break the news to me slowly? You’ve ruined my trip.”
“What do you mean?”
“You could have told me he was on the roof. And when I called you from Paris, you could have told me he was acting sluggish. Then when I called from London, you could have said he was sick, and when I called you from New York, you could have said he was at the vet. Then, when I arrived home, you could have said he was dead.”
The husband had never been exposed to such protocol but was willing to learn. “OK,” he said. “I’ll do better next time.”
“By the way,” she asked, “how’s Mom?”
There was a long silence, then he replied, “Uh, she’s on the roof.”
THESIS SENTENCE: Growing up into the truth means living life God’s way, the way of Love!
THOUGH MANY DO NOT WANT TO HEAR THE TRUTH, THE APOSTLE TEACHES…
I. TRUTH UNDERSTANDS THAT LOVE IS ESSENTIAL (VV. 1-3)
A. The Truth of Essential love is not doing the right thing with the wrong motive!
1. Speaking in the tongues of men and Angels is a reference to the ability to speak to God in an Angelic language. This would be knowing someone’s native language and being able to communicate with them on a very personal level without any language barrier. Without love, even speaking someone’s language means nothing! It is just a bunch of noise! They still can’t hear you!
2. Prophecying is the ability to communicate the truth of God to others. It is the Old Testament understanding of the Prophet, One who spoke for God to the people. It involved knowing what it was God wanted to say, a mystery to others, and then saying it on God’s behalf that all might know God’s will! Without love, even knowing God’s will has no meaning! Even if you have tremendous belief/faith in Jesus, faith that is unshakable, without love, it means nothing!
3. Even if one has no regard for their life or their possessions and is willing to give it all up, without love it doesn’t matter how much money you have given away, how much you tithe and give to missions, and it doesn’t matter if you are willing to lay down your life for the cause, without love….
B. The Truth of Essential love moves far beyond ability!
1. The Apostle does not negate the abilities of this church nor does he state that these abilities are not valid or worthwhile.
2. What The Apostle is saying is there is a balancing act that must take place within the life of the church, we must all use all our gifts, and we must use them in love and on the basis of love.
C. The Truth of Essential love creates credibility!
1. Many in life have many gifts but the motive behind using those gifts can undermine not only the gift, but the person. If a doctor only practices to make money and not heal HE has no credibility concerning his gift. If a lawyer only practices law to be seen as a person of influence, but does not care about justice, the gift and the person lose credibility.
2. The same is true of All Christianity, if our faith and practice of following Christ is for any other reason than to return the love He has so freely given, we lose all credibility with our Savior and forfeit eternal life!
THOUGH MANY DO NOT WANT TO HEAR THE TRUTH, THE APOSTLE TEACHES…
II. TRUTH UNDERSTANDS THAT LOVE IS PRACTICAL (VV. 4-7)
A. The truth of the practicality of love is Positive (X6 but the appearance of x2)!
1. Love is: patient (vs. 4)
2. Love is: kind (vs. 4)
3. Love always: protects (vs. 7) A more literal translation here would be “Love bears all things.” This is reflected in the KJV. This is the model the Apostle has set forth with his own life. His desire was to not be a stumbling block to those he lead. This is where the NIV comes up with “Protects.” Paul bore all hardship so as to protect his followers from Stumbling. This is to be the model the church follows! We are not to be a stumbling block to our brothers and sisters, for we are to protect them by bearing all things for Christ sake.
4. Love always: trusts (vs. 7) Here again, a more literal translation would be “Love Believes all things.” Pistuo is the Greek verb and it can mean: faith, belief, and trust. This will be in Paul’s concluding remarks. What he is saying here is Love has faith. Love and faith go hand in hand. Love enables us to believe where we have not yet seen and thus…
5. Love always: hopes (vs. 7) Love does not give up but “hopes” for the future in positive terms. This has the incredible power to enable the one who loves to…
6. Love always: perseveres (vs. 7) Love is about staying power. It is about tying a knot in the end of the rope and hanging on. Love does not give up, but it perseveres! This is really were the Apostle started, “Love is patient.”
7. Have you ever seen this kind of love in another? Do others see it in you? The Apostle is speaking here of a real and practical love that is to be lived here and now. These are the positives, but if this hasn’t gotten your attention, he says, lets look at it from a different angle
B. The truth of the practicality of love is not negative (X8)!
1. Love is not: Envious of others and what they have! This also speaks to jealousy and quarrleling. This is the opposite of love!
2. Love is not: Boastful! It does not Brag!
3. Love is not: Proud. It is not “puffed up” or arrogant. This is the opposite of love.
4. Love is not: rude. The more literal translation of the word is “shameful behavior.” Love does not behave shamefully.
5. Love is not: self-seeking. It doesn’t look for it’s own advantage but to the advantage of another. Others come first when love is in control, NOT SELF!
6. Love is not: Easily ANGERED! THIS ONE HURT! It is not irritable!
7. Love is not: a keeper of wrong. It is not resentful. It doesn’t HOLD A GRUDGE!
8. Love does not: Delight in evil/ injustice. BUT, REJOICES WITH THE TRUTH. Love’s desire is to GO GOD’S WAY. And God’s way is the truth. Love GROWS UP TO THE TRUTH! LOVE PUSHES CHARACTER TO THE POINT OF CHRISTLIKENESS. WHO DO YOU WANT TO LOOK LIKE?! This is in opposition to doing things our way.
C. The Truth of the practicality of love builds unity!
THOUGH MANY DO NOT WANT TO HEAR THE TRUTH, THE APOSTLE TEACHES…
III. TRUTH UNDERSTANDS THAT LOVE IS PERMENANT (VV. 8-13)
The Apostle has brought us to the highest point of his argument, we have reached the top of the mountain, here we must finally see the truth.
A. TRUTH UNDERSTANDS WE DON’T UNDERSTAND EVERY THING
1. All the Corinthian church held dear and of high esteem would not last. 2. All the “know it alls” will find out what they know will not last.
3. What was thought to be clearly seen was only a poor reflection.
4. What was thought to be perfection was only imperfection for Perfection had not yet arrived.
B. TRUTH UNDERSTANDS WE MUST GROW UP
1. “When I was a child, I thought like a child (vs. 11).”
2. “When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me (vs. 11).”
3. The time has come to grow up into the truth.
C. TRUTH UNDERSTANDS LOVE IS ALL THAT REMAINS
1. When faith has become sight;
2. When hope is reality;
3. Love is the foretaste of our ultimate union with God, graciously give to us now and shared with our brothers and sisters. Love is the greatest of the three because it will endure eternally when the love of God is all in all. It is the greatest because it undergirds everything else and gives meaning to an otherwise confusing world. Only when love presides over our common life in the church will all other actions and our spiritual gifts find their rightful place and achieve the purposes for which God has given them to us. LOVE IS ALL THAT REMAINS!
CONCLUSION: “Grandpa walked into the family room and found his little grandson, Jeffy, standing up in his playpen, crying.
“He looked so pitiful, standing there in his little baseball T-shirt and diaper. His face was red and tear-stained from crying. When Jeffy saw his grandpa, his face lit up in a way that smote the old man’s heart. He immediately reached up his chubby little hands in supplication.
“Out Papa, out!”
“What grandpa could resist such a plea? Not this one! He walked over to the playpen and reached down to lift his little buddy out of captivity and distress.
“Just then, however, Law and Order stepped into the room.
“Jeffy’s mother walked out of the kitchen with a dishtowel in her hand and spoke sternly. “No, Jeffy! You are being punished. You have to stay in bed! Leave him right there, Dad.”
“Oh, fine. Now what’s a grandpa to do? His grandson’s tears and reaching little hands tugged mightily at his heart- but he didn’t want to interfere with a mother’s discipline either.
“He couldn’t stand staying in the same room with the boy, reading his newspaper and pretending to be aloof. Nor could he turn around and walk out the door without feeling like a betrayer to his little pal. What could he do?
“Love found a way.
“Since Grandpa couldn’t take Jeffy out of the playpen, he climbed in with him. “If you’re in the playpen, Buddy, I’m in the playpen. What’s your sentence? How long are you in for?” And finding a big, jolly grandpa suddenly filling his little prison cell, the little boy found comfort even in his captivity.”
ARE YOU READY TO GET INTO THE PLAYPEN AND LET LOVE RULE IN YOUR HEARTS? ARE YOU READY TO LIVE LIFE GOD’S WAY, OR WILL YOU CONTINUE TO LIVE LIFE YOUR WAY? WHEN IT IS ALL SAID AND DONE, ONLY LOVE WILL REMAIN! HAVE YOU RECEIVED THE TRUTH OF GOD? WHAT WILL BE THE CONCLUDING REMARKS FOR OUR LIVES? WHAT WILL REMAIN?
