Love is the Greatest Spiritual Gift

There was a young man who was determined to win the affections of the young lady who was so angry that she refused to talk to him. He decided to win her heart by sending her love letters. He began by writing her a love letter every single day with the hopes of winning her back. After a week of writing her a letter every single day, he was frustrated that he didn’t receive any response, so he doubled his efforts. And when that didn’t work he doubled his efforts again. This went on for some time with no response at all from the young lady, until he eventually learned that she married the postman.

When I met Olga, I was a typical young man in love. I went out of my way to court her and show her I cared.

She was going through a rough patch at the time and I had the opportunity to be her encouragement. So with this unique opportunity presenting itself, I took my role seriously and set about encouraging her any way that I could. She was dealing with some of the greatest hurts and hangups in her life at this time, so I began reading scripture to her (what better way can you think for a young seminary student to express his love to the woman of his affection?).

There was a time in our courtship that she had to travel back to Venezuela. I knew that I wouldn’t see her much (no Skype, no internet, not even cell phones with unlimited long distance plans in those days). So I recorded (on cassette tape, mind you) myself reading the passages that calmed and soothed her troubled spirit and I wrote out a series of notes and letters for her to open while she was away from me.

But we’re not talking about romantic love here today. We’re talking about God’s love for us.

God’s love for us is very different than the kind of love that we are capable of for each other.

Our text today is 1 Corinthians 13 – one of the finest passages in the Bible and indeed in all of literature.

1 Corinthians 13 CSB

1 If I speak human or angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give away all my possessions, and if I give over my body in order to boast but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, 5 is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. 6 Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will come to an end. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put aside childish things. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known. 13 Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love.

[pray]

This is a much loved verse that believers throughout the ages have embraced and literature lovers consider to be one of the best odes to love ever put to the page. We have hung artistic prints of these verses on the walls and quoted them in marriage ceremonies throughout the ages.

However, I propose to you that Paul did not write a romantic poem teaching us how spouses should treat each other.

Rather, Paul wrote a corrective message to the troubled church at Corinth. This passage was inspired by the Holy Spirit to correct wrongs that were taking place in that church and to correct wrongs that we still see being committed today.

The Church at Corinth was troubled:

They were impatient with each other.

They were envious of each other’s gifts.

They were prideful and arrogant about what they had.

They were competing for position at the communion table.

They were even suing each other.

Paul’s message to the Corinthian church was actually a rebuke.

Corinth was similar to modern day America:

There was little love for others.

There was a constant, self-centered focus

There was an inappropriate emphasis on sexual gratification.

There was a proliferation of free thought that lacked a foundation in biblical principles.

Much of the very same corruption that Paul saw in Corinth is still very prevalent in our churches today.

Here’s the thing that we need to remember here at FBC Pharr...

Truth: ALL churches have problems. Especially the ones with people in them.

We see people come and go all the time, because today’s church culture has become like a buffet for people who are searching for the perfect church. I can tell you that this church is not especially different from other churches. We have problems. I don’t expect that people will come here and believe that we’ve found the magic formula to eradicate all the problems in our church.

But I always hope and fervently seek to identify and correct the problems that we have with grace and love for each other. If I ever give up on that it will be time for me to go find another job. As your pastor, I must always be leading the march to a positive and life transforming church that will make a difference in the lives of those who call this their church home.

Paul writes this passage, rebuking the Corinthian church in a message of love.

I. Love Enriches

1 Corinthians 13:1–3 CSB

Principle: Anything we do without Love is worthless.

In this totally fictional scenario, let’s say that my beloved wife and I get into an argument—let’s say its over the dirty dishes in the sink [I usually do the cooking in our home]. There are times that I have to wash the dishes and then cook the meal and eat the meal. When I take the dirty dishes back to the kitchen and find my mess that still needs to be cleaned—sometimes I just don’t want to do the dishes. I’ll be honest with you that there are times that I hope she’ll volunteer to do the dishes after I’ve been on my feet preparing a meal.

But what if I have that expectation and she doesn’t volunteer, or she says “I’ll do that tomorrow!”

Sometimes that doesn’t sit well with me. I don’t want to leave the dishes for tomorrow. I want them done right now, but I don’t necessarily want to do them.

What if I decided to get demanding and tell her that she needs to do them? And what happens if she refuses? We have mismatched expectations that could erupt in conflict.

What would happen if I decide to do the dishes with a bad attitude, that I’m doing her work and I’ll just show her by doing the dishes with a bad attitude.

How do you think that works toward solving our conflict? It doesn’t, does it?

However, what if I decide to do the dishes knowing that she is tired and has no more desire to do the dishes than I do. What if I do the dishes as an act of service for her? Would that be doing dishes with love?

Paul applied this kind of thing in his letter to the church at Ephesus...

Ephesians 4:15 CSB

15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ.

There are times that we have to say hard things to people. Paul tells us to practice love when we have to do this. He also tells us that this will lead us to spiritual maturity in Christ.

The truth is that we CAN speak the truth in love. We can prepare a meal and wash the dishes with love. We can take out the trash with love. We can do all manner of chores in the home and in interactions with our spouses and children. OR we can decide to do them with animosity and anger in our hearts.

Paul is telling us that we absolutely MUST be loving with each other if we are grow together in Christ—if we are to accomplish good works together.

Here at FBC Pharr, we are a diverse church, which is a good thing—a very good thing—but not necessarily an easy thing.

We have Spanish speakers and English speakers.

We have an older generation, a middle generation, and a younger generation.

We have men and we have women.

We have people who grew up in the North and we have people that grew up in the South.

And with all of this diversity, there are times that we get on each other’s nerves. However, we are working on building a church that shares a unity of purpose that permeates our diverse parts. We have to learn to put away our nerves and get along better.

Let’s look back at that verse from Ephesians, where Paul tells us something about love...

Ephesians 4:15 CSB

15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ.

Love is something that “adds to” rather than “takes away.”

I think there is a principle there that we can apply...

PRINCIPLE Love enriches everything it touches rather than destroying and tearing down.

Paul’s message to Corinth was not a message of...

phileo love – a spontaneous natural affection based in feelings that friendship displays.

storge love – a Greek word that describes the love that a parent has for his children or that family members share.

eros love – a passionate love between lovers.

romantic love – some lofty, unreachable ideal that cannot be maintained beyond courtship.

It was agape love is God’s love.

ἀγάπη - agapē - love, goodwill

Agape Love is a love of action rather than feeling. A love that requires a strong will, a deliberate choice.

Agape Love tells us how to love our neighbor, our family, our enemies, and even our fellow church members.

Agape love seeks to bless and works on behalf of another person, just the way that God did for us.

Agape love obeys God’s will even when God’s will makes no sense from a human perspective.

Agape love means to love the undeserving and unlovely in spite of the anticipated disappointment and rejection.

Agape love is what sets a Christian apart from the crowd.

Jesus sums it up for us in Luke 6...

Luke 6:27–36 CSB

27 “But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If anyone hits you on the cheek, offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don’t hold back your shirt either. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and from someone who takes your things, don’t ask for them back. 31 Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them. 32 If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High. For he is gracious to the ungrateful and evil. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

Just look at how action-packed that passage is: listen, love, do good, bless, respond, give, do for others, love, lend, have mercy

Love enriches everything that it touches. That’s because as love adds to what it touches, it builds it up and makes it into something that is better than it was before.

How much better would our marriages be if we could learn how to do this with each other in the home?

SECRET all good marriages that last for years have learned how to practice this secret of grace and peace with each other.

How much better would our churches be if we could put away our petty squabbles and get along with each other in peace and grace, just like Jesus taught us to do?

II. Love Edifies

It often surprises me how often we tear each other down as we try to do something good. I can sometimes see petty rivalries and grudges between people in the church—even at times among people that know better. There are times that these little rivalries last for years. These usually stem from some difference of opinion that is never resolved and lingers in the hearts of those who were involved.

These kinds of things have the tendency to tear down the church rather than build up the body of believers. However, love should always build up, rather than tear down the church.

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 CSB

4 Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, 5 is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. 6 Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Quite often we live in our fleshly selves, rather than in our spiritual selves. We act out of the way that we have learned to live with each other, jockeying for position, making power moves, feeling the hurts that others have given us and refusing to take the higher road, to act out of love. It takes love to put away our hurts and grudges—to forgive each other—and it does not come easily to us, but is hard won through years of self-reflection and corrective work to undo what has been done to us.

This requires love.... sacrificial love. Love for self, love for others, and love for the work that Jesus is doing among us.

We aren't expected to do this only with our loved ones or children. We have to do this beyond extended family gatherings. We have to give sacrificial love to our brothers and sisters in Christ. And truthfully we have to be willing to extend that love to visitors in the church and to unbelievers in our workplace and in the marketplace.

Paul took this theme up also in his letter to the church at Ephesus, instructing the believers there to...

Ephesians 4:31–32 CSB

31 Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. 32 And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.

We must be a people who known and recognized by our unity and love.

When the world looks at us and sees no difference from anybody else ... When they see no love, they decide that the church has nothing for them.

Division does not come from God.

Fighting does not come from God.

Church splits do not come from God.

Gossip does not come from God.

These all come directly from the enemy.

III. Love Endures

1 Cor 13:8 “Love never ends..”

Love is durable. It is not going to blow away in the first storm that comes along. It’s not like some cheap carnival toy that will fall apart the first time you play with it.

When you love someone, it’s easy to take the hits and keep on going forward arm in arm. When your love is stretched thin, it’s too easy to throw in the towel and start picking fights and holding things against each other. We get there sometimes as a church. We know that the work that we have to do is important, but we let ourselves get overextended and burned out and then we either get short-tempered with each other, we get our feelings hurt and fail to deal with things in a healthy way, or we just stop serving or leave the church.

The Church at Corinth was acting like children. They had no agape love to guide them. They were acting out of selfishness and self-serving motives—just like we do at times.

Paul is telling us here to put away childish things and grow up. Christian maturity comes from love.

Jesus tells us…

Matthew 5:39 CSB

39 But I tell you, don’t resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

Paul wrote to the young pastor Timothy...

2 Timothy 2:23–25 CSB

23 But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, because you know that they breed quarrels. 24 The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, 25 instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth.

That’s pretty clear, isn’t it? But we forget and act in the way that we have always act.

Love enriches, it edifies, it endures, and finally it...

IV. Love Exceeds

1 Corinthians 13:13 CSB

13 Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love.

I love this word “remain” or “abides.” The Greek word: μένω menō is telling us that love lasts, it endures, it stands up when all the other spiritual gifts, like faith and hope, are down for the count. Love can still be there and help you overcome whatever life is throwing at you:

in your relationships

in your work

in your job

in your church

Whatever it is that you are going through, if you will stop and tell yourself that love can get you through it, you might be surprised at the results.

Principle: Love will be there after everything else is lost.

We forget this, but if we will tell ourselves that we are grace-filled and loving people who forgive each other any wrong and that we are on the same team, working together with love and grace between us, we can continue in whatever circumstances that are challenging us.

This is precisely the kind of love that God has for us. We weigh love in human terms and know that human love is fickle. But God’s love is nothing at all like human love.

God’s love is perfect love. The greatest human lover of all time, Jesus Christ, said...

John 15:13 CSB

13 No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.

The greatest example that we have of God’s love is when he sent his son, Jesus Christ to die for us on the Cross.

John 3:16–17 CSB

16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Conclusion

I can tell you that I am certainly glad that Olga did not marry the postman, because I never would have seen her again.

She returned to me ahead of schedule (she couldn’t stand to be away from me any longer—nor I from her). We were very soon engaged and married not long after. Now we’ve recently celebrated 28 years of marriage and I am quite pleased that she continues to put up with me after all these years—Even when I am tempted to be unloving and irritable.

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“How does God’s love need to impact your life?”

Are you too judgmental?

Do you need to have more love for others?

Are you impatient or irritable with others?

Do you hold grudges or allow unforgiveness to rule the way that you interact with others at home, at work, in the church?

Do you need more agape love in your life?

Jesus gave us the greatest gift of love that extends to every part of our lives. His salvation is that free gift of love that is available to every man, woman, and child that would believe in him and call upon him as Lord and Savior. Have you asked Jesus Christ to be your Savior?

I recommend that you let the Holy Spirit challenge you to make some changes in your life.

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