But. . . Love -- The Greatest of These

Most Meaningful Gift

What is the most meaningful gift you ever received? What made it meaningful? - - - was it the cost of the item, or the love behind it? (insert personal story)

(Transition) We instinctively know that love gives value to gifts, and to relationships. A child’s simple drawing means more than an expensive present because of the love behind it. In 1Cor13, Paul tells the church that you can have tremendous spiritual gifts, great acts of sacrifice , and impressive devotion - - but if you lack love, it all becomes noise, emptiness, and nothingness.

Big Idea today: Love is the defining mark of Christian maturity, the indispensible virtue that gives meaning to everything we do.

Without love- Everything loses its meaning

1 Corinthians 13:1–3 “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.”

Paul’s warning

You can speak with heavenly eloquences—-but without love: “a clanging cymbal.”

You can have mountain-moving faith— but without love: “I am nothing.”

You can give everything to the poor or even face martyrdom —without love: “I gain nothing”

Consider: John 13:34–35 “34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.””

Consider Matthew 22:36–40 “36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 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.’ 40 “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.””

Key insight so far:

Love is not optional. It is not one of many virtues — it is the essential ingredient. Everything is empty without it.

A question for yourself: Is there any part of my spiritual life where I am doing the right thing—but without the right heart?

What Love Looks Like in Action

Paul does not define love by feelings, but by actions and attitudes.

Love is Patient. . .

Patience reflects God’s character 2 Peter 3:9 “9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

Love gives people room to grow

Love is kind. . .

Kindness is love with hands and feet Ephesians 4:32 “32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

Love does not envy or boast. . .

Love is secure enough to celebrate others

Love is not proud or rude. . .

Humility is at the heart of Christlike love Philippians 2:3–5 “3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,”

Love is not self-seeking

Love puts “we” above “me”

Love is not easily angered

Love is emotionally disciplined.

Slow to anger reflects God’s nature Psalm 103:8 “8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.”

Love keep no record of wrongs

Love chooses to forgive Colossians 3:13 “13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.”

Love rejoices in the Truth

Love never compromises righteousness

Love bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things

Love has resilience

Love fights for the relationship

A question for yourself: Which part of Paul’s description challenges me the most right now?

Love is eternal

Why love is the greatest.

Faith will become sight 2 Corinthians 5:7 “7 for we walk by faith, not by sight—”

Hope will be fulfilled Romans 8:24–25 “24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.”

But love will continue forever 1 John 4:16 “16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”

Love is God’s eternal nature for God is love 1 John 4:8 “8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

Love is one Christlike virtue we will bring with us into eternity.

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

Or also consider Romans 13:10 “10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

Applications

Examine your heart

Practice one expression of love this week

Choose love in difficult places

See people through Christ’s eyes

Examine your heart: Ask yourself, Am I motivated by love or by duty, by pride, or by routine? pray Psalm 139:23–24 “23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; 24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.”

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Practice one expression of love this week.

Choose one of Paul’s descriptions from 1Cor13:4-7

Patience, kindness, forgiveness, humility, perseverance, and intentionally show it to someone who needs it.

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Choose love in difficult places

Loving those who are easy to love is natural.

Loving those who are difficult to love is spiritual maturity consider Matthew 5:43–48 “43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

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See People through Christ’s eyes

Every person you meet today is someone Jesus died for.

Conclusion

Love is not optional for Christians it is essential

Love is not temporary - it is eternal

Love is not passive - it is active

We are to be people who are marked by the love of Jesus inside and outside, to grow beyond doing the right things on the outside, but doing the right things with the right heart.

Image a church body where:

Words are seasoned with patience

Actions overflow with kindness

Forgiveness replaces resentment

Truth is honored

Relationships are protected and preserved.

That is a church that is shaped by the greatest of these - - love

Love is the defining mark of a follower of Christ— without it we are nothing, with it we reflect the very heart of God.

If you are here today in need of prayer for anything please come let us pray for you, if you are not comfortable coming forward for it, see myself or one of the men after the service and we will be happy to do that. If you are here as a guest and have not heard the gospel message we would love to talk to you for a lit bit after services with a special message just for you, see myself, Nick, Tom, or one other men.

(Song) (Prayer)