We Serve Out of Love/Love's Actions (3)

Introduction

We started last week examining a comprehensive list characterizing Biblical love. Again, Biblical Love is a purposeful commitment to sacrificial action for others. In our text the Holy Spirit is answering this question. What does Biblical love (agape love) look like practically? The Holy Spirit provides us the answer.

1 Corinthians 13:4–7 KJV 1900

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

In these verses, there are...

13 Characteristics of Biblical Love.

You can divide this list into two categories. The two categories are what is Biblical Love and what it is not.

So far, we covered 5 Characteristics that are NOT found in Biblical love. They were...

Biblical Love is...

NOT Envious

1 Corinthians 13:4 KJV 1900

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

BIBLE EXAMPLE: King Saul was painfully jealous of David’s accomplishments knowing God’s hand was upon David.

Biblical love is...

NOT Boastful or Braggadocios

1 Corinthians 13:4 KJV 1900

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

BIBLE EXAMPLE: The rich man who build more barns essentially was tooting his own horn and God judged him for it.

Biblical love is...

NOT Arrogant

1 Corinthians 13:4 KJV 1900

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

BIBLE EXAMPLE: King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4.

‌Biblical love...

DOES NOT Act Unseemly or Unbecomingly

1 Corinthians 13:5 KJV 1900

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

BIBLE EXAMPLE: Jonah

Biblical love...

Does NOT Seek Its Own

1 Corinthians 13:5 KJV 1900

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

BIBLE EXAMPLE: For this characteristic, I gave you the story of King Ahab and is desire for what was not his, Naboth’s vineyard.

Here is where we want to pick back up today!

Biblical love is...

NOT Easily Provoked

This is a very interesting characteristic and one that needs to be emphasized more.

1 Corinthians 13:5 KJV 1900

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

The word “provoke” means the same as it does today. It means to incite or stir up. This word can be used in a positive or negative way. In fact, Scripture uses this word in a positive manner concerning love.

Hebrews 10:24 KJV 1900

24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

We are encouraged by God to incite or stir up each other to love as He loves and to do good works. However, in our text, it is used negatively. We are NOT to let the actions and words of others incite or stir us to the point we lash out against them.

There are many examples in God’s Word.

BIBLE EXAMPLE

Moses is an example of how we often let others incite us to take actions contrary to God’s Word. As Moses led the nation of Israel across the wilderness, the people repeatedly tested him as well as God. God promised He would take care of them throughout their journey. Yet, at the drop of a hat, the children of Israel would moan and complain about everything. On one such occasion, they were in a very dry and deserted area of the wilderness. They were without water. And, once again, all of Israel begins to complain. Moses and Aaron appeal to the Lord’s help. The LORD commands Moses to take his rod, gather the people around a rock, and then speak to the rock.

Numbers 20:8 KJV 1900

8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

Moses does that the LORD commands. He takes his rod and gathers them all together. Everything is proceeding as God instructed. However, there was small hiccup. Moses was mad. He was extremely upset by the people’s constant complaining. You can hear it in the tone of verse 10.

Numbers 20:10 KJV 1900

10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?

Note then his actions.

Numbers 20:11 KJV 1900

11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.

Uh-oh! Moses did not obey God’s instruction in that moment. What happened? Moses allowed the constant complaining of the people rob him of his ability to love Biblically. Some might say that Moses was justified because of the people’s constant complaining. That is the issue. Biblical loves necessitates that we not allow others to provoke us. When we do, we abandon all desire to serve and obey the Lord. Our emotions take over and we respond out of fear or anger. Both fear and anger are selfish actions. For in those times, we lose sight of God and focus only on ourselves. It happened with Moses. In this particular instance, it cost Moses a great deal. His reaction to the people resulted in Moses not entering the promise land with Israel. His lack of Biblical love towards the people forfeited that blessing. It would seem that was harsh punishment. Indeed, it was. It was harsh because God expects His people to live and act holy as He is holy. Thus, even today, God expects each of us to be people of Biblical love. What does that love look like? It is a love that is not easily provoked to outbursts of anger. Instead, our love for others is to be gentle as we faithfully serve others even when they fail.

HEAD

Again, Biblical love reflects the true nature of God. Remember that God is love. Repeatedly, God has resisted the provocation of man. We see many examples of this in Scripture starting with the great flood in Noah’s day. The wickedness of men was great to the point that God’s Word says...

Genesis 6:6 KJV 1900

6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

However, God acted out of love and mercy. He did not destroy all of mankind. Instead, out of love for men, He spared Noah and his family along with all the animals. He did not allow man’s wickedness to provoke Him. As I said, this is just one instance. I could point out the Tower of Babel, the children of Israel, and even when He came to the earth only to be mocked and murdered by sinful men. Even on the cross, He did not react to man’s provocations. Instead, He acted out of His love for us.

HEART

We, as His people, must do the same. We must be careful that we do not give into the provocations of others. Yes, there are times when people will be hateful and mean. Guess what? It will happen even within churches. That is the point of this entire passage. We are to use our spiritual gifts. Utilizing spiritual gifts means we must work with others. Working with others requires Biblical love which, in turn, means we are not going to be easily provoked by the words and deeds of others not matter how hateful or sinful they might be. I am not to react with a sinful action. Doing so only causes an escalation of sin. Instead, I am to act out of love.

Proverbs 15:1 KJV 1900

1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: But grievous words stir up anger.

HANDS

Practically speaking, I am to Biblically love others even when they seek to provoke me to sinful actions. The verse I just read give you a practical way of doing just that. Instead of reacting with “grievous words,” we are to give a “soft answer.” Moses is an example of what happen when allow others to provoke us into doing something against God’s instructions. Moses reacted to their sinful actions. It cost him dearly.

Christ said...

Matthew 5:38–40 KJV 1900

38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.

That is how we demonstrate Biblical love. Instead of retaliating, we respond by giving up what we possess through sacrificial actions.

Here is the next characteristic of Biblical love.

Biblical love...

DOES NOT Take Into Account A Wrong Suffered

This where the statement “Love is Blind” becomes a reality for us as believers.

1 Corinthians 13:5 KJV 1900

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

The key word here is the word “thinketh.” In Greek, the understanding is a little different than our understanding in English. Our definition of “think” is to use our minds as the means to decide or arrive at judgments or conclusions. However, in our text and in Greek, the word “think” actually is word that means to tally or keep count. In other words, Biblical love does not tally or keep a record of all the wrongs done suffered. There are many people who keep count of every negative thing said or done to them. They then use that tally as the foundation of how they treat others. For example, if a person has done more good than bad to them, they are friends with them and express love towards them. However, if a person has been hateful to them, oh boy, you are now on their bad side. Thus, any believer who keeps a tally of wrongs suffered is not a exhibiting Biblical love.

BIBLE EXAMPLE

I believe a great example of this characteristic of Biblical love can be seen in the life of Joseph. If you are not familiar with Joseph, you can find his story recorded in the book of Genesis. Joseph was the great grandson of Abraham. His father was Jacob whose name was later changed to Israel. Joseph was born as the 11th son of Israel. Thus, he had 10 older brothers. Joseph was greatly favored by his father. He was so favored by his father that it caused his brothers to be extremely jealous. One of the things that sorta pushed their jealous over the top was when Israel gave Joseph a special coat. It was a coat of many colors signifying how much Israel favored Joseph over the other 10. It so enraged his brothers that they conspired to murder Joseph. As the story goes, they laid a trap for him. They captured him throwing him in a pit. It was their intent to kill him, however, one of his brother intervened. Instead of killing him, they sold Joseph as a slave. From there, Joseph’s life is one big roller coaster ride. He goes from a slave to being the manager of entire Egyptian household belonging to a member of the royal court. Everything was going good until Potiphar’s wife desired to have sex with him. Joseph resisted her advances. In turn, she conspired against him and he was sent to prison. While in prison, he helped a steward of the royal household get his job back only to be forgotten in prison and unrewarded for his efforts. Eventually, God raised Joseph out of prison and through a series of events Joseph became Pharoah’s right hand man. Now, Joseph is second in command overall of Egypt. A famine was devastating all the nations around Egypt including Egypt. Making a long story short, Joseph’s brothers end up in Egypt looking for food. Lo and behold, who do they end standing before? It was Joseph. By this time, Joseph is much older living and looking like the Egyptians. They do not recognize him. Yet, Joseph knew exactly who they were. Now here is my point. His brothers were the cause of all his problems. Their jealousy resulted in them taking some awful actions against their brother. They had thrown him a pit to die. They had lied to their own father concerning Joseph’s true condition. They sold him into slavery. If there was anyone who had the opportunity to tally up all the wrong things done to him, surely it was Joseph. Now, they stood in front of him and he had the advantage. The world would advise him to enact his revenge. They would stay to Joseph, “Make them pay for all they have done to you.”

Yet, Joseph was a man who loved and followed God. Remember that God is love. Thus, Joseph made the choice not to count all the wrongs he suffered at their hands and it was a long list. Instead, note what Joseph says to them after he had revealed himself to them.

Genesis 45:4–8 KJV 1900

4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. 5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. 6 For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

What was it that Joseph understood about God? He understood that God is sovereign. He also understood that God is love and full of forgiveness. As a result, Joseph determined to live as God would have him to live and not as the world would advise. Thus, instead of taking revenge upon his brothers for all the wrong they had done, he chose to love them, forgive them, and submit to God’s plan for his life.

That is the essence of Biblical love. It DOES NOT take into account any wrongs suffered.

HEAD

God exhibited the same love to us. Even while we were yet sinners, He died for us. Christ, during His earthly ministry and especially at the end of that ministry, suffered many wrongs. He was falsely accused. Men spat on him. They beat him. Soldiers whipped him. Even when Pilate desired to release him, the crowd chanted, “Crucify him, crucify him.” He was mocked. And, as we know, he was crucified between two thieves. Crucifixion is the most shameful way for a person to die. Yet, in the midst of all that, Christ himself said...

Luke 23:34 KJV 1900

34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

HEART

Here is the point. No matter how many times someone wrongs you, you are to forgive them out of a heart of love. We, as believers, are to reflect God’s nature in our lives. We are to love as He has loved and we are to forgive as He has forgiven. I know it is something we all struggle with. In fact, the disciples struggled with it as well. When Christ taught them the same thing, they too wondered how many times were they to forgive someone who continually does them wrong.

Matthew 18:21–22 KJV 1900

21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

HANDS

It all comes down this one principle. Biblical love does not take into account all the wrongs suffered. We are not to keep a tally. Instead, we are to act in Biblical love towards those who repeatedly treat us wrongfully. Note , again, what Christ said in Matthew 5.

Matthew 5:43–44 KJV 1900

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Let’s consider one more characteristic and we are done for today.

Biblical love...

DOES NOT Rejoice in Unrighteousness

1 Corinthians 13:6 KJV 1900

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

Here we find a couple of word studies that are necessary for us to fully understand what IS NOT Biblical love. We have the word “rejoiceth” which is an action verb. In Greek, it means simply means to feel happy or joyful. The other important word is a noun. It is the word “iniquity.” Again, it simply means unrighteousness which is the failure to adhere to the principles, commands, and law contained in God’s Word. Since God is righteous, anything outside of God is consequently unrighteous. Putting all that together gives us then this understanding about Biblical love. Biblical love never is happy or joyful about sin or sinful actions. It takes no pleasure in things that fall outside of God’s righteousness. Instead, Biblical love should drive us to mourn over sin and its effects upon us personally as well as all those around us.

BIBLE EXAMPLE

Again, the Bible is filled with examples of God’s love in response to our sin. In each example, we never see God rejoicing over our sin and the pain that it causes us. Instead, we often see how God mourns over sin’s effects. I will give one example from the Old Testament. Over in Genesis, we see how quick men increased in wickedness and sin. The downhill decline of morality in men was so steep and stark that God had to respond. Listen to Scripture’s description of man’s sin and note God’s reaction.

Genesis 6:5–6 KJV 1900

5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

The word “grieved” in Hebrew has the sense that it hurt the heart of God. There was no gloating over man’s demise. There was joy in the fact the men were wicked and now God had the opportunity to punish them. No, instead, man’s quick decline into sin grieved God causing Him to mourn for men. It hurt Him to see their depravity and sin.

HEAD

We know that God is full of compassion. Compassion is an important aspect of Biblical love. His compassion towards us is what drove Him to send His Son as the sacrifice for our sin. I remind you of John 3:16 once again since it personifies God’s love, Biblical love.

John 3:16 KJV 1900

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

In that verse, we see the compassion of God. There is no gloating or glee. We do not see a God Who is excited to judge men. No, it is just the opposite. We see His concern for men. We see His compassion. In fact, Christ demonstrated that same compassion even as He walked among mankind.

Matthew 14:14 KJV 1900

14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

Matthew 20:34 KJV 1900

34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

Mark 6:34 KJV 1900

34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

Our God is God of great compassion. He loves us with a great love that never rejoices in our sin, suffering, or circumstances.

HEART

If then, I am to have the mind of Christ, I must also be a person of compassion. I am to demonstrate Biblical love towards those around me. What does that look like? Well, it is not a love that rejoiced in sin or even the failures of others. No, instead, I am to see sin as God sees it. Additionally, I am to see sinners as Christ sees them. He saw them as in need of a Savior. Christ then set aside the splendors of heaven. He traded His throne for a animal trough. He came and He Himself became our sacrifice for our sin. You see that it is Biblical love.

HANDS

What does this all mean? It means for me to love God Biblically I must also hate sin. I am often concerned and bothered by the fact that many so-called believers desire to look and act like the world. The word, as we know, is driven by sin and rebellion towards God. Even now, this world is becoming the same as the days of Noah. Sin is celebrated and desired. For the world, that is understandable. However, it you truly call yourself a believer, then you will love the things of God and hate the things of this world.

1 John 2:15–17 KJV 1900

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

The flip side of that coin is this. We are abstain from the things of this world. That is one side. However, the other side is also mentioned in 1 John.

1 John 4:20–21 KJV 1900

20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

Biblical love rejoices not in iniquity. Biblical love hates sin. However, at the same time, Biblical love yearns to see the sinner come to know Christ and seeks to them do so.

Conclusion

Head - This morning our focus is Biblical love. As we close, may I remind you that God is love. If we, then, claim to follow Him, we have no choice but to love others. He is love, He loved us, and He loved us first. Therefore, we are to love, love him and others, and love them before the love us. Any believer who claims to love God must be love others as well.

1 John 4:10–11 KJV 1900

10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

Heart - This means that was are to love then Biblically. Essentially, it means loving others even when we don’t fee like it. And, it also means loving others according to the characteristics indicative of Biblical love.

Hands - Let’s get busy living a life of Biblical love.