I’m Doing The Right Things, So Why Do I Feel Empty ?
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
ILL. Have you heard the story about the actor who was playing the part of Christ in the Passion Play in the Ozarks? As he carried the cross up the hill a tourist began heckling, making fun of him, & shouting insults at him. Finally, the actor had taken all of it he could take. So he threw down his cross, walked over to the tourist, & punched him out. After the play was over, the director told him, "I know he was a pest, but I can’t condone what you did. Besides, you’re playing the part of Jesus, & Jesus never retaliated. So don’t do anything like that again." Well, the man promised he wouldn’t. But the next day the heckler was back worse than before, & finally the actor exploded & punched him out again. The director said, "That’s it. I have to fire you. We just can’t have you behaving this way while playing the part of Jesus." The actor begged, "Please give me one more chance. I really need this job, & I can handle it if it happens again." So the director decided to give him another chance. The next day he was carrying his cross up the street. Sure enough, the heckler was there again. You could tell that the actor was really trying to control himself, but it was about to get the best of him. He was clinching his fists & grinding his teeth. Finally, he looked at the heckler & said, "I’ll meet you after the resurrection!" (from sermoncentral)
Can you identify at all with this guy ? Have you tried being like Christ, and yet you end up frustrated ? Perhaps, you can identify with these.
I try so hard to do the right things, and yet I feel so empty. I teach a Sunday School class, and yet I feel so frustrated. I work hard at being a good Christian wife, at raising my children right, and yet I feel so unfulfilled ! I’ve done so much for others, and yet I feel under appreciated. I’m beginning to think that it’s about time that I do something for me. Maybe it’s time that I take care of #1. After all, no one appreciates the what I’ve done, and it’s really not gotten me anywhere ! Do any of these sayings sound like you ? Have you ever felt any of these feelings. This evening I want us to look at the subject of: "I’m Doing The Right Things, So Why Do I Feel Empty ?"
Why the emptiness in spite of your efforts in doing what is right ? It could be that the problem lies not in what you’re doing, but why you’re doing it ! You see with the Lord "motive matters !" That is what these first three verses of this wonderful chapter are all about ! It’s about "why we do the things we do", and "what the result is when we fail to do them with the right motive or intentions." Let me share four thoughts with you from these three verses.
I. Speech Without Love Is Empty. V.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.
Dearest Jimmy,
No words could ever express the great unhappiness I’ve felt since breaking off our engagement. Please say you’ll take me back. No one could ever take your place in my heart, so please forgive me. I love you, I love you, I love you!
Yours Forever, Marie
P.S. And congratulations on winning the state lottery!!! (joke from sermoncentral)
We can go to great lengths in sayings the right things. We can express love through our speech, but if there is no genuine love behind our words, then it leads to emptiness ! Words are awful hollow if there is no love to support them !
"Sounding brass" is not speaking of a musical instrument, but is speaking of a piece of metal and the sound it emits when struck !
Illustration
The word "tinkling" is the same word translated "wailed" in Mark 5:38
The word is used to describe those who were paid to mourn at funerals !
Our words have no significance without love ! They are empty, and so vain without love !
II. Studies Without Love Is Empty.
V. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; ........and have not charity, I am nothing .
I’ve heard it said...."People will not care about how much we know until they know how much we care !"
Is doctrine important ? Absolutely ! Yet, we can have the right doctrine. We can preach, and teach the right truths, but if we lack love....we will be empty. To be fulfilled in the Christian life, one needs doctrine, and devotion, principles, and passion, conviction, and charity !
We can believe the right thing, teach the right thing, preach the right thing, and yet not be full ! Our studies, our doctrine, our teaching, our preaching, our very lives must be saturated with the love of God, and love for him.
Absence of love was the problem with the church at Ephesus. They did the right things. They said the right thing. They held to the right doctrine, but they had forgotten the very thing that had saved them, and made them who, and what they were. They had forsaken, neglected their first love !
III. Spirituality Without Love Is Empty.
V 2
..."and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
Wouldn’t you like to have that kind of faith ? Wouldn’t you love to be that "Spiritual" ?
Yet, Paul reminds us that "charity" is the key. Even if we had the before mentioned faith, and were able to do great things. It would be of no profit, no benefit without love ! The proper motive is important. And our motive must be love of Christ, and love for Christ !
Isn’t is true that so many place so much emphasis on the gifts of the Spirit that they forget the giver ?
Are we not guilty of that very thing ? We are gifted by the Holy Spirit, but trying to use those gifts without the proper motivation which is love will only lead to a lack of fulfillment !
IV. Service Without Love Is Empty.
V3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed .....
2Co 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
What lies behind your service ? Why are you a deacon ? Well....the church ordained me ! Why do you teach Sunday School ? No one else would do it ! Why do we do benevolent ministry.....why bereavement ministry ? It is our duty....it is our responsibility ! Oh...but listen. If that is the driving force behind these ministries, then they will fail ! Eventually they will cease to work ! The end result will be emptiness because we can sell all that we have and give all of it to the poor to make sure they are fed, and will lack love.....it it nothing ! What should we do then ? Quit doing what we’re doing ? Give up our classes ? No...the answer is "to fall in love with Jesus Christ again". Take a fresh look at Calvary again. Remember what he has done for you ! See his love, sense his love. Let is fill every cavity of your soul ! Let your motive be "the love of Christ, and love for Christ" !
V. Sacrifice Without Love Is Empty. V.3
though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Polycarp was the Bishop of the church at Smyrna. He was arrested for his faith, and taken before the Pro-Consul. The Pro-Consul said to him...."Take the oath and I let you go, revile Christ." Polycarp answered, "For eighty and six years have I been his servant, and he has done me no wrong, and how can I blaspheme my King who saved me ? The Pro-Consul said..." I have wild beasts. I will deliver you to them, unless you repent." And Polycarp said...."Call for them, for repentance from better to worse is not allowed us; but it is good to change from evil to righteousness." The Pro-Consul said again to him..."I will cause you to be consumed by fire, unless you repent." But Polycarp said: You threaten me with the fire that burns for a time, and is quickly quenched, for you do not know the fire which awaits the wicked in the judgment to come and in everlasting punishment. But why are you waiting ? Come, do what you will." Therefore he was fastened to the instruments which had been prepared for the fire, but when they were going to nail him as well he said: "Leave me thus, for he who gives me power to endure the fire, will grant me to remain in the flames unmoved even without the security you will give by the nails." So they did not nail him, but bound him, and he put his hands behind him and was bound as a noble ram out of a flock, for an oblation, a whole burnt offering made ready and acceptable to God; and he looked up to heaven and said: "O Lord God Almighty, Father of thy beloved and blessed Child, Jesus Christ, through whom we have received full knowledge of thee, the God of Angels and powers, and of all creation, and of the whole family of the righteous who live before thee. I bless thee, that thou hast granted me this day and hour, that I may share, among the number of the martyrs, in the cup of thy Christ, for the Resurrection to everlasting life, both of soul and body in the immortality of the Holy Spirit. And may I, today be received among them before thee, as a rich and acceptable sacrifice, as Thou, the God who lies not and is truth, hast prepared beforehand, and shown forth, and fulfilled. For this reason I also praise Thee for all things, I bless Thee, I glorify Thee through the everlasting and heavenly high Priest, Jesus Christ, thy beloved Child, through whom be glory to Thee with him and the Holy Spirit, both now and for the ages that are to come, Amen." When he had finished this prayer, the men in charge of the fire lit it, and a great flame blazed up.
Polycarp no doubt was a dear saint of God. Yet, Paul says...."though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing !
Perhaps it is time that we begin again ! Maybe we need to go back to the cross, and see the Savior giving his life........see him shedding his blood because of his love for us, and so that we might be saved. Maybe it’s time to return to the altar, and confess our need for his love, and forgiveness, and ask him to fill us with his love, and fill us with love for him ! Surely it is time to get our priorities right, and have the proper motive in our hearts ! Would you come to the altar tonight, and express your fears, your frustrations, your emptiness, and your need ?
