1 Corinthians 13:1-8

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

Paul doesn’t just paint a positive picture of love and what we need to put on but he is also very clear about what:

• Practices to Put off:

1. Does not envy – Paul makes it clear that selfish jealousy is at odds with the Lord’s love. True love is not jealous of what others have or have become. The Greek word that is translated “envy” here means “to burn with zeal.” It’s the picture of being heated to the point that we boil over with envy, hatred, or anger. In the context of 1 Corinthians 13, we see that love does not focus on personal desires. It is not eager to increase possessions, the goal is not getting, its giving glory to God. Real love focuses on people not possessions. It’s what Jesus modeled in His ministry and why he spent so much time loving the poor. God’s love is selfless, not selfish, but in contrast to Christ’s command the Corinthian believers were ranking some spiritual gifts as more important than others and envying those who had the those gifts. So, in chapter 12 Paul points out that the different gifts are meant to serve one another and build up the church. True love calls us to see God’s gifts through the lens of serving others not trying to serve self. While love celebrates when others are blessed envy complains. Where love brings life, envy brings death and decay. As Proverbs 14:30 states “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” Love does not seek to benefit itself and it is content with what it has.

2. Does not parade itself – The Greek word translated here as boast means to brag and point to self. The reason that love does not boast is because love focuses on the one being loved, not on oneself. A braggart is full of themselves and is so busy magnifying themselves that they don’t have time to minister to others. But love turns the perspective outward focusing on the needs of others, without thought of repayment or recognition. Paul had many opportunities to boast, but instead he sacrificially served others. When it came to the Corinthian Christians he served them without a salary, and instead of boasting about his sacrifice, he wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:16, “If I preach the gospel that gives me no ground for boasting.” Are you going to put your energy into loving others or trying to look good? Because you can’t focus on self and serve at the same time.

3. Is not puffed up with Pride – Real love is not swelled up with a sense of self-importance and elated with a vain conceit of itself. Jesus Christ is the perfect example of selfless love. In Philippians 2:6-8 it says, “though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. ⁷ Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, ⁸ he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” Jesus did not focus on Himself. Instead, He became a servant and in humility died to save us.

4. Does not behave rudely – This is behaving in an ugly, indecent, unseemly or unbecoming manner. Christian love involves choosing appropriate actions and responses that bless others instead of belittling them. Sadly rudeness has become common place in our current culture. Public behavior and words that were unthinkable a generation ago are now commonplace. It’s what essayist Merrill Markoe in the Wall Street Journalcalls a “renaissance of rudeness.” Manners are not just rules they reveal the heart. But as our society has made it more and more about self, manners have been replaced with me. Rudeness is rooted in selfishness, but love is concerned for the well-being of others.

5. Does not seek its own – God’s love does not seek its own happiness at the expense and injury of others. The corrective to self-seeking is God-seeking. The remedy for selfishness is love. Jesus said in Mark 12:30-31, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second commandment is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Loving God and others is the true mark of a believer, not a love for self. As 1 Corinthians 10:24 says, “Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.”

6. Is not provoked – Love does not fly into a rage, but keeps the temper under control. Being hot headed usually involves making snap judgments, seeking instant vindication, and refusing to grant second chances. However, true love refuses to jump to conclusions, take revenge, or hastily judge anyone. The fact that love is “not easily angered” reflects God’s patient love for the world described in 2 Peter 3:9, “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

7. Thinks no evil – Love chooses to put the best possible construction on the motives and the conduct of others. Love is not disposed to finding fault, or to impute improper motives to others. Love is not a record keeper of wrongs but rather a keeper of rights.

8. Does not rejoice in iniquity – Love does not rejoice over the “vices” of other people; it does not take delight when they are guilty and fall into sin. Some of us secretly relish the thought of those who have wronged us coming to harmed. But love does not seek revenge it seeks what is right. Not only does Paul reveal the power, priority and picture of love but lastly he reminds us of the:

4. Perseverance of Love – Vs 7-8

Love lasts, Paul reminds us that love never fails. There are a lot of things in this life that falter and fail but not love because love lives on. Even after this body dies and decays the legacy of love that we leave will live on in the people we have loved and they will pass it on to those that they touch. What about you, what are you going to leave when this life is over? Will it be a life of love? Love is intentional it looks for those who need loved and graciously gives God’s love. So, what picture are you painting with the way you are living your life, is it a picture of service or selfishness? Are you living to love self or loving to serve others?

1 Corinthians 13:1-8

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. ⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

It’s here after Paul reveals the power and priority of love that he reveals the:

3. Picture of Love – Vs 4-7

Paul provides us with something more powerful than just principles in Verses 4-7 he provides us with a picture of love, so that we will know what love looks like. It’s in this picture that we see two contrasting practices, one that we are called to put on and the other we are called to put off.

• Practices to Put on

1. Patient – some versions use the word Suffers longs. Real love endures slights and wrongs patiently just like God Himself as revealed in Psalm 103:8: “The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.” Paul here reminds us of a both a painful truth and a powerful promise, that when it comes to people we will encounter problems but when it comes to patience there is incredible power. Without patience, we tend to take matters into our own hands and instead of walking by faith we engage in the works of the flesh. Your patience with people will be in proportion to your trust in God’s promises. Patience is believing God enough that you give Him the room to be the Ruler. Instead of meddling and making a mess of things you trust the problems and the people to God. Because you recognize that He is the only one who can change people’s hearts. Patience doesn’t react with hurt it responds with healing knowing that God is in control. Trusting God with people and with the problems and pain that they can cause means trusting His timetable. Are you patiently trusting in God’s truth or in our timetable? Are you living according to Christ’s calendar or clinging to yours? Not only is love patient but it:

2. Is kind – Kindness is active good will that moves us to help others. It’s not just kind thoughts but acts of kindness. Kindness is love in action, it’s the characteristic that led God to provide salvation for us as Titus 3:4-5 says: “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit” The kindness of God is also seen in Psalm 23:2-3, in God’s provision of green pastures, peaceful still waters, and the restoration of our souls in a wicked and weary world. The kindness of God is displayed in our lives when we tenderly and compassionately care for others. Our every action, attitude and word is flavored with grace when we walk in kindness. But this is not just a kindness reserved for those we love but also for those who hate us. But in order to express kindness toward those who are against us requires the work of God seen in 2 Corinthians 6:4-6: “⁴ but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way:  by great endurance,  in afflictions,  hardships, calamities, ⁵ beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; ⁶ by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love” Today we marvel at random acts of kindness, but when we are walking with the Lord kindness should become a regular everyday occurrence in our lives not a random one.

3. Rejoices in the truth – When love sees truth manifested in the lives of others, love responds with rejoicing. True love rejoices in what is right and good, it doesn’t seek to cover up sin and justify wrongdoing. Real love deals with sin it doesn’t sweep sin under the rug or look for ways to get by with bad behavior. Instead, it treasures truth, celebrates good behavior, and promotes virtue. True love has nothing to hide, and everything to rejoice in. What about you, are you rejoicing in truth or trash?

4. Bears all things – Love provides protection. The Greek word for “protects” here means “to cover” and includes the idea of protecting and preserving. It reminds us of God’s love, a love that provides protection. When we display the character of Christ we love with a love that watches out for others and is willing to withstand difficulty. When there is a shortcoming or fault in the one being loved, love has the ability to cover it like Proverbs 10:12 states, “Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.” When it comes to the sins and the failings of other people love is willing to suffer as it bears with them patiently. Love is not based on selfish desire or even mutual benefit; rather, it seeks the benefit of the other person. Love aims to give rather than receive.

5. Believes all things – A person with God’s type of love will “always trust.” That is, they will not be suspicious of the one they love. They will be slow to believe any damaging news concerning the one being loved and will always give the benefit of the doubt. Trusting means that you are always ready to believe the best about that person. Why do we need trust, because trust is the foundation of our relationships and without a foundation anything you try to build, is built on unstable ground. Mistrust, and suspicion are not only at odds with Godly love but they undermine and ruin our relationships.

6. Hopes all things – Love believes that all will work out well. This doesn’t just refer to circumstances but also to the conduct of others, meaning that however dark things may appear love holds onto this hope that things are not what they seem. It extends to “all things” to both words and deeds, and both public and private as well as that done and said in our own presence as well as in our absence. Love will never credit anything to the contrary unless compelled to do so.

7. Perseveres – it endures all things by bearing up under, meaning it sustains and does not complain. It bears up under all persecutions whether to person, property, or personal reputation. Paul starts with what to put on because he wants us to realize that part of the removing process is in replacing. The mistake we often make is to try and remove but never replace and it isn’t long before the sin we removed is replaced by another.What about you are you is your love patient, kind, rejoicing in truth, bearing, believing, hoping, and persevering? Are you living in God’s love, or is there something missing in your life?