Love The Greatest

1 Cor. 13 Love, The Greatest

Do you have charity? I’m not talking about acts of kindness or even dropping change in the Salvation Army bucket at Christmas time, although that is a good thing to do and I encourage it, I’m talking about “Divine Love” “Agape - Love” “Unconditional, no strings attached love.” Or as Wesley defined it, “ The love of God, and of all mankind for his sake”

Paul here places it’s importance above, oratory , gifts of prophecy, knowledge, miraculous faith, charitable acts and sacrifices. It is set as greater than faith and hope, and in Galatians 5 it is the first proof of the Spirit abiding and evidencing itself in us, may I mention not speaking in tongues or shouting or any other manifestation.

Paul goes on to list some positives and negatives of Divine Love.

A. Suffers long, and is kind - Notice the two go together.

“It, suffers all the weakness, ignorance, errors, and infirmities of the children of God; all the malice and wickedness of the children of the world: and all this, not only for a time, but to the end.” Wesley

1. You can look throughout history at those who have had to suffer, without love and it was not pretty. There were cursing and railings and whispering behind the back and etc.

2. I have a friend who is going thru I would call it the trial of his life, yet I have not heard one word of complaint nor defence from him. Even though his opposes may gain from it.

3. Look at Jesus, “As a sheep before her shearers is dumb so he openeth not his mouth” He suffered so much but not a word.

4. Corrie Ten Boom had just finished speaking in Munich when she saw him, the former SS man who had stood guard at the shower that day in Ravensbruck. The first actual jailer she had seen since her release. Corrie tells, “suddenly it was all there – the roomful of mocking men, the heaps of clothing, Betsie’s pain blanched face.” The guard walked up to Corrie as the church was emptying beaming and bowing, He told her how grateful he was that all of his sins were washed away. And he reached out his hand to shake Corrie’s. In her own words, “I tried to smile, I struggled to raise my hand. I could not. I felt nothing, not the slightest spark of warmth or charity. And so again I breathed a silent prayer. Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me Your Forgiveness. As I took his hand the most incredible thing happened. From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him, while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me.”

I like what Corrie says after that,

“When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself.” Corrie Ten Boom

B. It doesn’t Envy - or as the Amp. Version puts it, “love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy”

C. Vaunteth not itself - or boasts itself. Have you ever seen people just so sure of themselves? It usually ends in disaster.

D. Is not puffed up - Bro. Scott and the puffer pigeons. Just wind and feathers.

E. Behaves itself - Toward one another but especially toward the opposite sex.

F. Seeketh not her own - Isn’t out to make a name for itself

G. Is not easily provoked - exasperated

H. Thinketh no evil - no thoughts of evil, or evil about one another

I. Loves the truth hates the false

J. Bears all things, belives all things, (The Word of God) Hopes for all good, endures all.

Questions- How about you? How about me? Is this our life? Can we see ourselves in this chapter? I hope so. This is what we are to be like. Another put this chapter like this,

Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, Doesn't revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end.