If I have not love, I am nothing. (I Corinthians 13:2 )
Oakwood Christian Church
November 30, 2003
1. How do you evaluate your life? How do you know if you are doing good or not? How do you judge success in life? Is it how much money you make, how much you have, how early you retired, how many degrees you have? Is it your occupation, your position in society, this church?
2. The Bible says that if you don’t have love, you are nothing.
3. As Christians, we know that we all have love to some extent. That’s one of the marks of being a true Christian, part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22f ). But Paul wrote this to Christians. Love is not something that we either have or don’t have, but in the face of the myriad of life’s circumstances we find that we continually have to choose whether we will walk in a loving manner or not, whether we will treat another person with the care and respect and attention that belongs to them as either a child of God or a human being created in the image of God.
4. I think we often overestimate how loving we are, and we need to look again at the importance of love and then to see just what love will look like in the various circumstances of life. This passage in I Corinthians looks at love from four different angles.
I. The contention I Corinthians 13:1-3
A. Without love all our natural gifts and talents, all our achievements and successes, are nothing but noise and clutter. v. 1
1. Paul’s examples here (v.1-3) all come from church experience and life, but the same dynamic would apply to any other gift or talent.
2. In a church context and in the world, the immediate reference is to people who can speak well, teachers, preachers, musicians and singers, those who draw the attention and accolades of others. This would also extend to a person of great looks or beauty, athletic achievement, knowledge or intelligence, business success, or wealth.
3. A person soon finds that these qualities attract others and provide the person with respect, admiration, attention, and influence.
4. This then can become the motivation, and the person becomes self-centered. They can put less value on others, feel more important than or superior to them
5. It is easy then to expect, depend, crave, and feed on the positive input of others, expecting or demanding to have our own way. We can be angry when we don’t receive it and we will overlook the contributions and value of others. We can expect the world to revolve around us.
6. A person beautiful on the outside can easily not do the work to become beautiful on the inside.
7. A person of knowledge can easily feel that they have all the answers, that there is nothing they need to learn, especially from others.
8. In a marriage we can expect our mate to love us and do the things we want and need without making the effort to seek to meet their needs.
B. Without love, even though we have reached great heights in our experience with God and we have seen great victories and live in the joy and power of God, and even though we may have great Bible knowledge and have been used mightily by God, it amounts to nothing. We are nothing. v.2 There are two logical questions that come out of this:, How is it that Christians who are so mature and spiritually advanced could be so lacking in love? And, why are we nothing?
1. I see a similar scenario at work. Our company embraces the team concept and has a core value of team member happiness. Yet when the focus is on the results, TMs are then seen as expendable in the service of the higher good (company profits). As Christians the issues of sin and truth and justice can overshadow those of grace and mercy, so that some believers can feel condemned or looked down upon by other fellow-church members.
2. In a church context we are all at different levels spiritually. Some of us have seen great answers to prayer, healing or deliverance, miracles in the area of money or faith, we have been around forever and know our Bibles inside and out.
3. Others struggle and live in fear. They are depressed and always sick. They go from one problem to another. And of course all of us are here in varying degrees.
4. It can be hard for us sometimes to show patience for those who are weaker, those who have little faith, who live in fear, the doubters. It can be easy to throw guilt on others and make them feel unworthy.
5. So even the giants in our church can be lacking in love and to the extent they are, they are nothing. Whatever they have done, whatever they think they are, it means nothing. And why are they nothing?
6. When Jesus was asked what the great commandment was (What is the most important thing in God’s eyes?), He said, You shall love God and love your neighbor as yourself. Mark 12:28-31
7. In the Upper Room, as Jesus’ ministry was coming to a close, He gave His disciples a new commandment, “Love one another as I have loved you.” John 13:34-35 . 13.35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." cf. John 15:12-17
8. Paul says that the whole law is summarized in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Galatians 5:14
9. Love is the goal. To become like Christ is to become more loving. To have more faith is to bring the blessing of God to more people as an outworking of love.
10. In a marriage, spouses are often at different spiritual levels, they may not share the same vision, some may not even be believers, yet they must live together and work through the same problems together. We know a house divided cannot stand (Mark 3:25
C. Without love, even though I do great acts of service and donate gazillions to worthy causes, including our local church, it is of no benefit to me. v.3 There are those who are huge givers, donate endless hours to the work of the church, maybe behind the scenes fixing everything, building everything. serving on every committee.
1. While many may give or sacrifice their time and energy without regard for any return, often we may seek a return from God, financially or in heaven. Often we may receive recognition. Cf. Matthew 6:5
2. Without love we are not benefited in any lasting or God-favored way.
3. Isn’t love the motivator here? Not necessarily. It can be a need for recognition, a pacifier for guilt, a need for control, wanting everything my way, trying to earn favor with God.
II. The context Though this passage is often quoted and used independently of I Corinthians, we need to see it in the context of Paul’s letter to see more clearly how this is intended. I Corinthians 12
A. The topic is spiritual things, not spiritual gifts. 1 Cor. 12:1 Periì de\ tw½n pneumatikw½n, a)delfoi¿, ou) qe/lw u(ma=j a)gnoeiÍn.
B. Some Christians contrast spiritual gifts in chapter 12 with love in chapter 13 and say that love is better and more important, so we don’t really need gifts. That is not what Paul is saying.
C. The chapter talks about how the Body of Christ works. The Holy Spirit places each of us in the Body and gives each of us a manifestation of Himself for the common good. So –
1. we all have some contribution that God wants to make through us
2. all our contributions are needed and important
D. They had many outward indications of the working of God in their midst, yet they needed to know and to remember that love is what really matters in their lives, and they needed to know what it looks like in real life.
III. The content I Corinthians 13:4-8
A. Love is patient. v.4
1. Why is this first and why is it linked with patience? Patience shows itself in kindness. When we are not patient, we are demanding and judgemental. And why are we impatient? We have visions and conceptons on how things ought to be. The success of our programs and marriages depend on the results of others. The outcome is more important than the people.
2. It takes time to change character ,to overcome habits, fears, doubts. People need room to fail, to relax. Companies often fire people rather than work through their problems, and churches often encourage people to leave rather than work through the problems and taking the time to build good Chistian character.
3. Growth and change are often slow. Living a godly life is not easy; there is a lot to learn. It is not just a matter of stopping this or that. We can and will wait. Impatience can break the trust and dissolve the sense of being loved. In cnurch we are all at different levels of spiritual maturity and understanding. Can we give others time before we write them off?
4. In marriage, our spouses (and kids) often need to change (in our eyes) and to demand change (now) can cause a quid pro quo relationshop which leads to a downward spiral. You don’t meet my needs, so I won’t meet yours, and so you don’t meet mine, etc.
B. Love is kind xrhsteu/etai h( a)ga/ph v. 4
xrhsteu/omai be kind, be gentle, behave kindly (1C 13.4)
1. At work I have ten people working under me and there are countless things about the work and the business that are needed to achicve the highest results. I think people work harder and better when they are happy. They can work faster and longer and contribute more over a longer period of time than when they are lving under the pressure of performance reviews and strict, harsh, threatening oversight.
2. There is so much to learn that I work hard to keep my people, keep them happy, build their loyalty, so with time they learn all the ins and outs of the meat business.
3. Like flowers that need sunshine and water to bloom, people need to feel loved, and kindness is often the first thing they see or want. Patience and kindness give the other person the feeling of acceptance and belonging, that they are a part of what is happening and they want to do their part
4. In the business world we have issues of performance, where we may not care whether a person has a family to support and they need the health insurance. The company looks at the bottom line or their rules. Follow them or else.
5. In churches we are careful to look out for sin, and when we find it, we need to cut it off at the roots. We think we are acting in love, but is the other person feeling the love? I admit it can be hard sometimes to separate the sin from the sinner.
C. Love is not jealous, or envious. v.4
1. Jealousy is often associated with getting insecure or threatened in a relationship, but here I think the sense is resenting or otherwise feeling bad over another’s success.
2. Someone else is getting more attention, recognitoin, is elected to the Board, is singing the solo, is getting to teach, is doing whatever it is you want to do, or getting the recognition that you want. They are more visible, receive more praise, have more power, have more money. We are on the sidelines, envying or resentful that they are considered more important or spiritual than we are. They are on the board, and you are not. They are on the platform, and you are in the pew.
3. It is destructive because you are putting your interests above that of the group’s. Saying that may not help much, because we all have needs to be recovgnized or appreciated.
4. But we have already seen that if we do or have all these things that give us this recognition but don’t have love, it doesn’t help us.
5. So what do we do if we neeed to be loved (respected, recognized, appreciatetd)? How can we not be angry (jealous, envious) when we are passed by?
6. We realize that love is what God is looking for, even above the contributions we want to make. Better to be known as a loving person than a great singer or Bible teacher.
D. Love does no boast or brag 13:4 perpereu/omai (per-per-you´-o-may) as speaking arrogantly boast, brag; behave as a braggart or windbag (1C 13.4)
1. Bragging or boasting comes when a person is looking for the recognition, apprecation, respect, love that we all need. We feel by drawing attention to what is good about us, our achievements,our position, our title, we will get it. We need to remind you what we have done.
2. Again, we are trying to be recognized for things that Paul has already said means nothing if we do not have love.
3. So while we may have this intense need to be/feel loved, the place to start is by loving others first; and as we give, it shall be given back to us, good measure, shaken, pressed down, running over, they will pour into your lap. L:k 6:36-38
4. In marriage a spouse might let you know how much better they are doing than you are. They are living up to their end of the bargain much better than you are. They don’t have the problems that you are struggling with. You shouldn't either.
E. Love is not puffed up, or conceited 13:4 fusio/w (fyu-see-ah´-o) literally puff up, blow up; figuratively in the NT make proud or arrogant, cause to become haughty (1C 8.1); passive become conceited or proud (1C 4.6)
1. A person becomes puffed up when they have been successful in something or for whatever reason (looks, intelligence, etc,) they are receiving special or more attention or recognition than others.
2. When this happens, we often fail to see the good things of others: the contribution of others to our success, the fact that many others could have done just as well given the same circumstances, we often overestimate our part in the results, not seeing it as a gift from God. We may have worked hard, but ultimately the end is from God. God allowed us to have that place of honor, that moment of glory; and it can disappear suddenly and soon.
F. Love does not act disgracefully, dishonorably, indecently 13:5 a)sxhmone/w (as-chay-mon-e´-oh) (1) as defying moral standards act disgracefully, behave improperly (1C 7.36); (2) as defying social standards be ill-mannered or rude (1C 13.5)
1. In this context the intent seems to be acting out our frustration and anger against those who are getting all the attention: criticism, downgrading, badmouthing, gossip.
2. So in church the illwill returns upon you and you end up worse than before.
3. In a marriage there can be conflicts over whose needs are not being met. One wants for the other to meet their needs first, and no one meets anyone’s needs, and everyone is miserable.
G. Love does not seek its own 13;5 ou) zhteiÍ ta\ e(auth=j
1. We often wonder how we can do this when we have so many needs of our own.
2. Someone has said that it is in giving that we receive;, it is in losing our life for His sake that we find it Matthew 10:39 , 16:25
H. Love is not provoked, irritated, or angry 13:5 parocu/nw; (par-ox-oo´-no) literally sharpen; figuratively arouse, excite, stimulate; in a negative sense provoke, irritate, cause to be upset; only passive in the NT (AC 17.16 ; 1C 13.5)
1. There are those who may intentionally try to provoke us, but in general we are provoked when someone takes what we believe to be ours or they in any way act in a manner contrary to our hopes or expectations. Because of our relationship with that person, either in church or a marriage or friendship, we feel we have a right to expect certain behavior, and they don’t comply for whatever reason.
2. Love is more concerned with how we act than how others act. Love does not wait for the other person to meet our expectations before it acts. Love will not stop when the other person does not respect our wishes.
3. But doesn’t love have a right to get angry over the wrongs of another?
I. Love does not take into account a wrong suffered 13:5 ou) logi¿zetai to\ kako/n
1. There are two ways this can happen: either someone takes from you something that belongs to you or they don’t give you something that does as well.
2. When you are loving, you are in a safe place. You are doing all you can do. You are doing the right thing. You are doing everything that you can have control over.
J. Love does not rejoice over wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 13:6
K. Love bears all things. 13:7 Lit. all things (it) bears pa/nta ste/gei
ste/gw related to ste/gh (roof); (1) strictly put a roof on; hence cover, keep silent about, keep confidential (1C 13.7); (2) endure, bear (1TH 3.1 ); (3) refrain from, put up with (1C 9.12)
1. In these four phrases, all things is empasized, and the phrase love never fails probably summarizes these four points.
2. Love does not bear some things, not even a lot of things. Love bears all things.
This and the next phrases make sense only in situations that we would like to see changed.
L. Love believes all things 13:7 Lit. all things (it) believes pa/nta pisteu/ei
1. Believing in a person will inspire a better performance than scolding them
2. To believe in a person involves seeing them as you hope them to become.
M. Love hopes all things. 13:7 Lit. all things (it) hopes pa/nta e)lpi¿zei
N. Love endures all things. 13:7 Lit. all things (it) endures. perseveres. pa/nta u(pome/nei
O. Love never fails. 13:8 ,. ¸H a)ga/ph ou)de/pote pi¿ptei:
pi¿ptw (pip´-toe) fall (2) figuratively; (b) of what fades or comes to an end cease, fall, fail (1C 13.8
IV. The contrast 13:8-13
A. What in life is not temporary? What in life cannot be taken from us? cannot be lost? stolen? broken? destroyed? damaged? 13:8
1. Most things in life will deteriorate unless great effort is given to maintain them
2. Many things in life will deteriorate no matter what we do.
3. Most things in life will change due to circumstances out of our control.
4. The only thing in life that does not change, will not die, cannot be lost or stolen from us, or destroyed or damaged, otherwise negatively changed with regard to us, is God.
5. The only things in life that can always progress are our relationship with God and our character. Will we become more loving, more patient, more kind, etc.?
B. When we see things as they really are, what things are important in life? What things really matter? What things are lasting? 13:9-13
But now remains faith, hope, love. nuniì de\ me/nei pi¿stij, e)lpi¿j, a)ga/ph, ta\ tri¿a tau=ta: mei¿zwn de\ tou/twn h( a)ga/ph.
C. Pursue love, but strive for the spiritual things. (14:1)
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