The Priority of Love

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Galatians 5:22–23 NASB95

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

1 Corinthians 13:1–3 NASB95

1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

It is interesting how much emphasis the Holy Spirit (the author of all scriptures) puts on love. There is a priority, placed on LOVE.

This LOVE

Is not the eros love which is the romantic and passionate love (not present in the NT, but it was present in the culture)

Is not the philia love which is the love between brothers and good friends - often translated “brotherly love”

Is not the storge love which is the love shared between family e.g. parents and children (the opposite form is found in Rom 1:31)

Is the agape love. The God-like love. This is the word that is primarily used to describe God’s love for the world and love that God has, that is His essence.

This is a love of priority. It chooses and makes something it’s priority. This is why John would write, “What manner of love has the Father bestowed on us”

This love decides to act, not because it is prompted but that the one demonstrating this love simply has a disposition to love. This is why John said “We love, because He first loved us”.

This is a love that is only favourable to positive traits, character or actions towards it. This is why Paul wrote, “But God demonstrated His love towards us even while were sinners. . .enemies”

It involves emotion, but it is not driven by emotion, it is driven by the will. It is not moody, sappy, and sentimental

It is unmerited and always seeking the benefit of someone else, putting others before yourself

It is love that can love the unlovely, or the unlovable.

This is not a love that comes naturally, God needs to teach us to do this through His word and His Spirit

Romans 5:5 “5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

One of the most profound statements made about the essence and character of God is that, “God is love”. Not that He has love, or shows love, but that He is LOVE.

Love is so prominent that when Jesus was asked, what is the greatest commandment, He responded by saying

Matthew 22:37–39 “37 And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 “This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Love is so prominent that the biblical writers could hardly speak of your conduct as a Christian without mentioning love

2 Peter 1:5–7 “5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.”

Colossians 3:14 “14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”

Ephesians 5:2 “2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”

Romans 12:9 “9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.”

1 Timothy 4:12 “12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.”

1 John 4:8 “8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

So it is no surprise that when Paul begins to list a contrasting category to the previoulsy mentioned vices (Impuruty, immorality, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, wrath, disputes, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness and carousing)

It’s no surprise that when he begins to talk about what God intended to have in our character, what God is doing in us through the work of the Holy Spirit, the pruning that He is engaged in - where He is cutting and moulding and shaping us to be something that pleases Him

It’s no surprise that the first thing He mentions is love!

Even when there was no apparent problem, Paul still said abound in love

Philippians 1:9 “9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,”

1 Thessalonians 3:12 “12 and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;”

A systematic theological study the NT will show clearly that God prioritizes love. That means if I want to truly be a disciple of Jesus, I must have love.

This is not only theological for Paul but He reflects on a practical application of God’s love to him

Galatians 2:20 “20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

It’s practical because paul also says,

Galatians 5:6 “6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.”

For Paul, to the Galatians, Faith finds its expression through love

We need not only think that faith is seen in:

Ministerial prowess

Exegetical sharpness

Tenancity and tactfulness

Oratorical ability

Contextually, faith is at work through love!

A Love he goes on to say, that serves one another (vs. 13)

Paul also wants this to be practical for the Galatians. Why?

They were biting and devouring one another

They were not serving one another - too busy, too uncomfortable, too inconvenient, too much, too bitter

They were provoking one another/boastful/envying - instead of stirring to love and good works, they were stirring to further resentment and disunity and strife.

They were not helping each other to bear their burdens - instead of praying and encouraging, fighting to get them back to Jesus, they are taking guesses at how they will fail or fall, gossiping and slandering

They were not walking in the Spirit, thus allowing Christ to be formed in them

They had behavioural problems and one of the things that can address them is love

So then, it becomes important for us to understand what love is and how crucial it is to our character development.

There must be a priority on love:

A lack of it, breaks down the marriage, breaks down the family, the community, and the body.

So for the Galatians, any one of these aspects of the fruit (or multiple) can be the answer to all the deeds of the flesh that Paul just mentioned.

They can certainly be addressed through love - Love for God and Love for your neighbours

# Sometimes your problem is a love problem!

Paul describes it here as “fruit”.

If the deeds are the evidence that the flesh is ruling, then the fruit is the evidence that the Spirit is ruling.

This term as used by Paul, referred to the evidence or the product of a state or an effort.

APPL. You either change your environment or live long enough for the environment to change you.

# 1 Corinthians 13.

Let’s consider the theology of love from Paul as explained to the Corinthians. It’s appropriate both theoretically and practically.

Theoretically because it explains what love is.

Practically because Paul places it at the center of a controversy in the church, a controversy that is causing division and breaking down the relationship between brethren.

For the Galatians ot was the advancement of a law-gospel that its proponents were legalistic with.

For the Corinthians, it is different (spirtual gifts) but the results are the same.

[The devil shows up in different ways, but seeks to have the same results]

Paul sees that the Christians are having behavioural issues, and he is able to show them this is a love issue.

In dealing with the controversy, he shows them the priority of love

He uses some hyperbolic hypotheticals to expose the preeminence love should have in our life, and the life of the church.

1 Corinthians 13:1 “1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.”

For those in the Corinth church, speaking with tongues seemed to be one of the things that was used to seek exaltation.

If this level of giftedness, is not accompanied by love then it is just noise.

If your giftedness cannot show up with love it’s just noise and it won’t produce the desired effect in the body.

If your gifting must always be the thing on display and not love, its just nothing.

Why? The priority of LOVE!

1 Corinthians 13:2 “2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”

What if I am gifted in knowledge?

1 Corinthians 8:1 “1 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.”

Paul, interestingly, was gifted in this area. Enough where he could’ve boasted if he wanted to.

1 Corinthians 15:51 “51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,”

1 Corinthians 2:7 “7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory;”

Acts 14:3 “3 Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands.”

Galatians 1:12 “12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.”

2 Corinthians 12:2 “2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven.”

In spite of all of this Paul says, if it lacks love I AM NOTHING

Why? The Priority of LOVE!

1 Corinthians 13:3 “3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.”

If I give it all up

My possessions (riches, residence, clothes)

My Body (interesting note: some mss say “to boast” not “to burn”

Paul boasted in brethren, boasted in work, Galatians 6:17 “17 From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.”

Paul had stuff to boast of. Of course, burning means he gives up his life. Both terms communicate a similar truth. Even if I give up everything, and I don’t have love. . .it’s all for nothing!

Love must be the priority

I need to remember God’s love for me

I need to think, love - it is easy to think a lot of things in any given situation and towards any particular person - before you think anything destructive, evil, malicious - THINK LOVE

Am I acting out of love or selfishness? Am I seeking the best in this situation

I need to choose love - agape love, is aptly called the love of choice. Are you putting contions and terms on the choice to love?

[THE PRACTICE OF LOVE LESSON In 1984, Tina Turner made a great comeback through here number one hit song, “What’s Love Got To Do With It?”

The message behind this song is that she is ready to put some limitations]