True Love

Introduction:

Love at 37,000 feet

I WANT TO LOOK FIRST AT THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVE; THEN, THE MEANING OF LOVE, AND FINALLY THE MOTIVE FOR LOVE.

I) Why Love is Essential

A. The Most Excellent way

i. Spiritual Gifts had divided the Church (Ch. 12)

1. In a “cliquey” church, Paul urges us to seek “the greatest gift” (12:31)

2. What IS the greatest gift, most excellent way?

ii. Spiritual Gifts had become more important than love

1. The church had zeal and passion for spiritual things…but no love

2. EXAMPLE: passionate about theological orthodoxy…OR PIETY…but prideful

B. Three Virtues…without Love (vv. 1-3)

i. Speaking in Tongues: (vs. 1)

1. Speaking in tongues without loving is just sounds like noise in God’s ears

2. EXAMPLE: Maybe not “tongues” but pious words at church bullying

ii. Knowledge, Understanding, Prophecy (vs. 2)

1. Theological, doctrinal knowledge; knowing God’s word in and out

2. EXAMPLE: but we post online, we disagree in ways that our loud, brash, insensitive, we use straw-man arguments

iii. Generosity to the Extreme (vs. 3)

1. We might not give our bodies to be burned, but we might give ourselves to school boards, family commitments, church, etc.

2. But we do it grudgingly, or we try to draw attention to ourselves

LOVE IS ESSENTIAL – AND WITHOUT IT, NOTHING ELSE MATTERS.

II) What Is Love (vv. 4-7)

A. What love IS

i. Patient: (vs. 4)

1. Love doesn’t give up on people but absorbs faults and annoyances

2. EXAMPLE: A person in your office that’s obnoxious to be around – but you see the end game of God’s work in their life

ii. Love is Kind: (vs. 4)

1. Love treats others with warmth and gentleness, looks to lend a hand

2. EXAMPLE: Loads the dishwasher, cleans the kitchen without being asked

iii. Love rejoices with the truth (vs. 6)

1. Loving a person does not see truth as antithetical to its purposes

2. EXAMPLE: Love cares enough that you call them out on their stuff

iv. Love bears, believes, and hopes (vs. 6)

1. Love is committed to others for the long haul, sees God’s purposes, and so doesn’t air dirty laundry, but rather overlooks many sins

B. What Love is NOT

i. Self-Centered (boasting, arrogant) (vs. 4b-5)

1. Love doesn’t draw attention to itself – it avoids the spotlight, it

2. EXAMPLE: Social media; dominating a conversation to talk about self

ii. Love is not irritable or resentful: A long fuse and a short memory

1. It has a long fuse – it doesn’t fly off the handle, but sets the stress of the workday aside rather than take out the stress on your spouse or children

2. A short memory: it doesn’t track how many times the towels aren’t picked up, the friend is late…

THIS IS A LOFTY STANDARD – WHO CAN LIVE UP TO IT? TWO THINGS. THE FIRST IS LEARNING TO LOOK AT A LONG HORIZON.

III) What Motivates/Empowers Love (vv. 8-13)

A. Love invests in relationships because they are Eternal

i. We Lack Neglect Love in favor of “other” gifts

1. The “Gift” became the focus – not the relationship

2. EXAMPLE: Being “right” in an argument with your spouse

ii. Spiritual gifts & virtues will end when Jesus returns (vv. 8-9, 13)

1. Spiritual gifts will not be needed when Jesus returns at the NH & NE

2. The virtues of faith & Hope will not be needed … at the NH & NE

iii. But: Love will continue!

1. Eternity will be the enjoyment of love for one another

2. Yet, we will only be beginning to love! l

B. Love is Empowered by our Experience of God’s Love

i. God meets our deepest longing in Jesus (vs. 12)

1. We all desire to be known deeply – BUT, this is our deepest fear!

ii. Why? Because a day is coming when we will see, and know God in perfection

1. “God is patient with me. God is kind to me….” Even as he knows me more fully than I know myself.

Transition:

Conclusion

The “love feast”