1 Corinthians 13 - The Love Chapter
1 Co. 13: The Love Chapter.
Read 1 Cor. 13 in several translations.
Love; The Greek for this word indicates a selfless concern for
the welfare of others that is not called forth by any quality of
lovableness in the person loved, but is the product of a will to love in
obedience to God's command. It is like Christ's love manifested on the
cross. [NIV SB]
"Love," the higher type of love, which recognizes something of
value in the person or object that is loved; love that is based on
principle, not on emotion; love that grows out of respect for the admirable
qualities of its object. This love is that which is seen between the
Father and Jesus (see John 15:10; 17:26); it is the redeeming love of
the Godhead for lost humanity (see John 15:9; 1 John 3:1; 4:9, 16);
it is the special quality demonstrated in the dealings of
Christians with one another (see John 13:34, 35; 15:12-14); it is used to
signify the believer's relation to God (see 1 John 2:5; 4:12; 5:3). Love
for God is shown by conformity with His will; this is proof of love
(see John 2:4, 5). . . . .This "love" (agape) must not be confused
with that which is sometimes called love, a quality composed largely
of feeling and emotion that has the center in self and the desires
of self. Agape centers the interest and concern in others and
leads to appropriate action. [SDA Commentary]
Our society confuses love and lust. Unlike lust, God's kind of
love is directed outward toward others, not inward toward ourselves.
It is utterly unselfish. This kind of love goes against our natural
inclinations. It is possible to practice this love only if God helps us set
aside our own desires and instincts, so that we can give love while
expecting nothing in return. Thus the more we become like Christ, the more
love we will show to others. [Life Application SB]
It is impossible to know who and what God is but not exercise
His special love to others. This is the proof of a person's walk
with God. Love, in this passage, is absolutely not human. The human
heart is a complete stranger to the kind of love described here. The
definition for God's agape love can be found in John 3:16, it is
self-sacrificial in nature; in I Corinthians 13, agape love is
patient, kind, not
jealous, doesn't brag, isn't arrogant, doesn't act unbecomingly, doesn't
seek its own, isn't provoked, doesn't take into account a wrong
suffered, doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness but in truth, bears all
things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things and
never, never fails. And last, agape love has Almighty God as its
source. Love is not God, God is love. We cannot exercise this love
without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. If you don't see it
in your life, ask God for it today and be prepared for a radical
change in your life. [In His Time; Walk with Wisdom]
It seems that love has little meaning any more. In most popular
books, television shows, and movies, the term "lust" would be more
appropriate than "love." Rarely do we see the kind of love Paul describes
here-patient, kind, not jealous, not boastful, not proud, not rude, not
demanding its own way, not irritable, not keeping records of wrongs done,
always persistent, always hopeful, able to endure any circumstance.
Surely such love would revolutionize marriages, families, churches, and
neighborhoods.
This kind of love is God's kind of love. This is the kind of
love God wants you to show to everyone around you. You see, love has
little to do with feelings and more to do with decisions and choices.
Think of the people with whom you interact every day-- a spouse,
children, a boss, employees, friends, neighbors, teachers, students. How
can you show love? Can, you be less irritable, more hopeful, willing
to persist through the difficult times, more patient, less jealous?
It doesn't come easy, but true love isn't easy. It is important,
however. In fact, of faith, hope and love, "the greatest of these is
love." [The One Year Bible for New Believers re 1Co.13]
Oil of Kindness
I recall reading some years ago in a newspaper article about an
old man who carried a small can of "3-In-One Oil" with him wherever
he went. When he passed through a door that squeaked he squirted a
little oil on the hinges. If a gate was hard to open, he oiled the
latch ... and thus he passed through life lubricating all the
squeaking places, making live more pleasant for those who came after him
... an unusual procedure, yet he derived a great deal of pleasure in
doing it.
We see others doing similar deeds like this by planting
flowers/shrubs along the roadway or picking up litter, planting trees in
unsightly places or like the good neighbor this Christmas who decorated a
tree along the rail road to enhance the area with a little beauty.
In our lives, there are many opportunities for us to perhaps
spread a little oil of kindness where it will make a big difference in
a small way. There's no telling how many lives we may keep from
rusting and squeaking, how many gates to happiness we may oil that will
make a life a little easier. Pastor Fate Thomas
His Name Is Bill
His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes
in it, jeans and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for
his entire four years of college. He is brilliant. Kinda esoteric
and very, very bright. He became a Christian while attending
college.
Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very
conservative church. They want to develop a ministry to the students, but
are not sure how to go about it. One day Bill decides to go there.
He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. The
service has already started and so Bill starts down the aisle looking
for a seat.
The church is completely packed and he can't find a seat. By
now people are looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says
anything. Bill gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit and when
he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the
carpet. (Although perfectly acceptable behavior at a college
fellowship, trust me, this had never happened in this church before!)
By now the people are really uptight, and the tension in the air
is thick.
About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back
of the church, a deacon is slowly making his way toward Bill. Now
the deacon is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair, a three-piece
suit, and a pocket watch. A godly man, very elegant, very dignified,
very courtly. He walks with a cane and as he starts walking toward
this boy, everyone is saying to themselves, you can't blame him for
what he's going to do. How can you expect a man of his age and of
his background to understand some college kid on the floor?
It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy. The church
is utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's cane. All
eyes are focused on him. You can't even hear anyone breathing. The
people are thinking, the minister can't even preach the sermon until
the deacon does what he has to do. And now they see this elderly
man drop his cane on the floor. With great difficulty he lowers
himself and sits down next to Bill and worships with him so he won't be
alone. Everyone chokes up with emotion.
When the minister gains control he says, "What I'm about to
preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will
never forget." Author unknown
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