A More Excellent Way: Love Keeps No Record

Love Keep No Record

TEXT: 1 Corinthians 13:4b-5a (NKJV)

Big Idea: Jesus emptied Himself for us, so we can let go of our selfish demands for others.

I. Introduction

Have you ever been in an argument where someone pulls out something from 5 years ago?

II. READ

Let's read our text.

1 Corinthians 13:5 CSB

is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs.

1 Corinthians 13:5 KJV 1900

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

Thinketh no evil

A. Thinketh = Logizomai (An Accounting Term)

It’s an accounting term.

To count

To Keep an record/account

Note book/ledger

Deliberate tracking/recording of wrongs

When Paul uses this word, he’s talking about deliberately keeping track of wrongs that have been done to you so you can remember them later and possibly use them against that person.

It’s the act of recording a debt that needs to be paid back.

1 Corinthians 13:5 KJV 1900

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

B. NO

Absolute and total refusal

b. It’s not saying love “tries not to” keep records or “sometimes avoids” doing this.

c. It’s a complete rejection—love simply does not do this at all, period.

No = Love refused to engage in record-keeping of wrongs at all.

1 Corinthians 13:5 KJV 1900

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

C. Evil

a. Bad things done to you

Wrongs

injuries

People inflict on one another

b. Hurt they have caused

Pain

Damage

Actions

c. Remember what they did?

Love operates like a business that deliberately destroys its account books rather than collecting debts.

A. The Corinthian Scoreboard

Lawsuits against each other - instead of settling disputes among themselves.

1 Corinthians 6:1 NLT

When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers!

Taking believers to secular court

Public scorekeeping - making it public of their wrongs

b. Fractions and Divisions (1 Cor 1:12-13)

1 Corinthians 1:12–13 NKJV

Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Contentions existed

I am of Paul

I am of Apollos

I am of Cephas

Competitive allegiance from past grievances

c. The Underlying symptoms

Jealousy

Self-promotion

Puffed-up pride

Ongoing contentions

B. The Core Issue: Mental Record Keeping

a. Replaying injuries over and over

b. Storing grievances n our heart

c. Using these mental accounts to justify divisions

d. Building cases for why we are right and they are wrong

C. Diagnostic Questions for Us

Do you have a mental list you pull out during arguments?

Are there people you avoid because of what they did years ago?

Have I been keeping score like the church at Corinth?

IV. How Jesus Loved

A. The Cross: The Ultimate Record Destroyed

Our ledger was full of sin

Colossians 2:13–14 KJV 1900

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

"He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness"

The record that stood against us with its legal demands

He took it away, nailing it to the cross

b. Jesus could have kept score

Every betrayal: Peter's denial, Judas's kiss, disciples sleeping

Every sin of humanity: past, present, future

The debt was real and massive

c. Instead, He prayed "Father, forgive them"

While they were still mocking

While they were still driving nails

Before they asked for forgiveness

IV. Solution

A. Love is a Choice - We decide what to remember

Acknowledge the wrong—don't deny reality

Joseph: "You meant it for evil" (he didn't pretend it didn't happen)

Jesus: "Father, forgive them" (acknowledged what they were doing)

We're not called to pretend we weren't hurt

Refuse to rehearse it

Stop replaying the offense

Stop telling the story to ourselves

Stop using it to fuel resentment

Choose to release the debt

"They owe me nothing"

Not because they deserve it

But because Christ forgave my sin

B. Practical Steps

a. Identify your ledgers

Who are you keeping score against?

What offences do you regularly rehearse?

b. Forgiving Deep Wounds

Abuse, betrayal, etc.

You’re not saying what they did is okay

Your not agreeing with what they did

Forgiveness doesn’t mean trust is automatic

You are saying I won’t be imprisoned with it anymore

You are choosing freedom over bitterness

b. Bring them to the cross

Picture your mental ledger at the foot of the cross

Write it down and release them to God.

V. Conclusion

Prayer:

Be Blessed

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