Exercising The Greatest Gift of God

Context

In the English language, we only have one word that we use for love, but in the Greek language there are four different words used for love:

Eros Love: A Passionate Love

This love is driven by passion. It could be anything from a physical love between a boy and girl, or a patriotic love of a person for his country. Simply stated, eros love is the base love of a man that arises from his own inner passion.

This word for love is never used in the NT.

Storge Love: An Affectionate Love

Storge love is the kind of love that exists between parent and child. It is driven by affection.

This word for love is never used in the NT.

Phileo Love: The Endearing Love

Phileo love is the love that cherishes. It is the love between a husband and wife, two brothers, or possibly even two life-long friends. It is a love that holds something, or someone, ever so near to one’s own heart.

This word for love is used some throughout the NT.

Agape Love: The Selfless, Sacrificial Love

Agape love is the ultimate love. It is God’s love. It is a love that is steadfast and never-changing. It is a love that continues to love, even when love is not deserved. It is love that is based solely upon the giver of it, and none whatsoever on the receiving end. It is a love that comes from within and continues regardless of reason or circumstance.

The love of God is truly amazing! From the beginning of God’s word, we see God’s unfailing love for mankind. We see this not only through His Word alone, but also through His actions.

John 3:16 NKJV

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Romans 5:8 NKJV

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 John 3:1 NKJV

1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

God has proven His love to us over and over again. If God were put on trial, the only thing He would be found guilty of is “Love in the First Degree”.

1 Corinthians 13 is known by most as the chapter of love. It is known as such because the entirety of its content teaches on the love of God. It explains the Priority of Love, The Practice of Love, The Permanence of Love, and The Progression of Love.

The chapter preceeding this speaks on the body of Christ and the gifts of God placed upon certain individuals within the body of Christ. It talks about the gifts of speaking in tongues, prophecy, the gift of faith, and miracles. It teaches that as the body of Christ, we are to function like a body should and benefit the body with our service. A leg that doesn’t walk simply becomes dead weight. That leg needs to function as it was designed to in order to be a benefit to the body. Paul emphasizes greatly that we should desire to serve God with the gifts that He has blessed us with.

With that being said, Paul wants to take this chapter to clarify something of grave importance. We are to serve God and we are to serve Him with the gifts that He has blessed us with, but we cannot forget the most important thing, to love.

This is where we pick up in Chapter 13.

Content

The Priority of Love (vs. 1-3)

Exercising Spiritual Gifts without Love is Useless

What? How can someone be so close to God that they are able to speak in tongues, prophesy the future, or have a supernatural faith and still be considered nothing?

How can someone be considered nothing when they have given all of their food to the poor, and even given their life in the name of Jesus? How is this possible?

It all depends on the intent of the heart. Why is that person serving? Why is that person studying the Bible so much? Why did that person give everything they had to the poor? Why did that person lay down their lives?

Paul is making something painfully clear in these verses: Love is the ultimate characteristic of a Godly individual. Someone can be going through all of the right motions for all of the wrong reasons.

True love is something that points outward. If I work tirelessly to perfect my gift, but bless no one in the process, who has it profited? If all of my work is self-imposed and to gain a broader name for myself, what is my true intention? Paul says that in the eyes of God, I am nothing. I can even lay down my life in the name of Jesus, but if I do so with self in mind, it was for naught.

This is not true love. This is not what being a Christian is about. Being a christian is not about gaining recognition for one’s self, it is about seeking recognition for God. It is not about getting paid, getting likes, or getting noticed. Being a christian, is about loving God and others.

How do I know if I am doing what I am doing for the right reasons. After all, Satan is the king of deception. I want to serve God and do so with the truest of intentions, so how can I tell? That is a great question. Paul thought so too. In the following verses, Paul explain what true love looks like.

The Practice of Love ( vs. 4-7)

The Permanence of Love (vs. 8)

The Progression of Love (vs. 9-12)

Commitment (vs. 13)

Abide In Love!!!

Challenge yourself. Line your life up next to this chapter and see where you stand. Are you living out of God’s love, or your own?

Romans 5:5 NKJV

5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

1 John 4:7–11 NKJV

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.