What is Love?

Introduction

Today we begin a series titled ‘Learning of Love’ as we look in I Cor. 13.

If you were to look at any of the modern ‘translations’, they would interpret the word ‘charity’ found in this chapter as ‘love’. But in God’s PERFECT WORD for english speaking people, it’s translated as the word ‘charity’. I want to say that that word is far superior than the word ‘love’ and is proof of the perfection of the KJV - and we will explain this in detail further on - but for now, we’re going to use the word ‘love’ almost exclusively right now, because I want you understand what love truly is. And once we explore God’s description of Love, the reason why the word charity is used will make sense.

If you were to ask many souls today what IS love, you’d get a variety of answers.

Many think love is an emotion or feeling

Ill. I believe that everyone here has probably experienced being a teenager with all these hormones going on and every other week you ‘fall in love’ with someone.

Many think that when they feel a certain way, that it must be love.

Let me say this: It just as well be indigestion.

I want to stay on this topic for just a minute, because too many people put too much stock in emotions & feelings. They get all worked up and they make life altering decisions based upon emotion.

Let’s bring this home for a moment - many people base their Christianity on emotion. They base their Salvation and their Standing in Christ on Emotion.

(Salvation / Relationship) Some will feel a certain way, and base whether they’re going to Heaven or Hell (Their Salvation) upon that Feeling.

Ill. They might hear about the Love of Christ - and how He died upon Calvary for their sins - and simply based on the truth of God’s Great Love for them, they FEEL good about that and they believe that they are going to Heaven based on God’s Love.

Church let me tell you something - you don’t go to Heaven based solely on God’s Love for you. You go to Heaven or Hell based on what you DO with what Christ’s Love compelled Him to do for you!

(Standing / Relation) Some on the other hand base their relation to God (how close they are) on how they feel as well.

Ill. Many Christians today will listen to this new-age Contemporary music which very often has little substance lyrically, but very deep rhythmically. And they get this high from it and feel ‘so close to God’, when in fact, they live very shallow lives, ignore God’s instructions and are in a pigsty eating with the swine.

I am NOT saying that Christianity is devoid of emotion, but it’s simply not based on that. I’m not saved because of a feeling - I’m saved because I read God’s Word concerning salvation, and followed the instruction therein by putting my faith in the LORD Jesus. It’s not an emotion, but a decision!

Love is not Simply an Emotion

Some think love is a sexual interaction

The popular ‘romantic’ term for sexual interaction is called ‘making love’. Let me explain something to you here. You are NOT MAKING LOVE when you are having sex. The problem with America is that is exactly the depth of their understanding OF Love. Listen, you better know what Love truly is, and you better have a ring on the finger BEFORE you have sexual relations.

Love is not sexual interaction either

But I want you to know that we CAN know what love truly is! According to the ‘great love chapter’ of the Bible, we have God’s mind and great description of what we call ‘Love’

Before we begin to examine aspects of Love, we need to examine what is addressed in the first three verses of this chapter. Because in the first three verses we are told about the IMPORTANCE of LOVE

Paul speaks in this first verse concerning his ABILITY

1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

Paul was fluent in languages, as well has been led by the Holy Spirit of God to speak tongues he’d not learned.

And what Paul is saying is even though he has this great ability, if it’s not employed by charity, it means very little. If that ability doesn’t spring forth from the well of Love, it’s effects are shallow.

Then Paul speaks of KNOWLEDGE

1 Corinthians 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

Paul could preach, he knew the mysteries of God, as God used him to unveil many to men. Paul had great faith - yet without Love, none of that meant anything.

He was teaching that even though we may have knowledge, if that knowledge isn’t employed through through love, you are nothing

Then Paul speaks of SACRIFICE

1 Corinthians 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Paul had suffered greatly - even up to this point in his life as a Christian. But unless Love is the driving force, it means nothing.

Even though we may sacrifice all, if it’s not done out of love, it’s all in vain

So now that we’ve examined what love isn’t. And we’ve examined how Important it is, it’s at this point in v4 that Paul begins detailing just exactly what love truly is. And the first thing he says is that Love is Longsuffering

I. Love is Longsuffering (v4a)

Suffereth Long (Longsuffering)

(def) Patient, patiently endure

This means that love is not rushed or fixed to some constraint of time.

Listen to me young people - there’s been many a young girls forever altered because some young boy came by and gave her attention she was desperately seeking telling her ‘I love you’.

If someone tells you they love you, but they won’t wait for you, they don’t love you. They’ll say ‘If you really love me, you won’t wait till we get married - but the fact is that if THEY really loved YOU they will have no problem waiting.

True love is not here today, gone tomorrow

True love is not tossed aside at the first sign of trouble

There’s been many a marriage that has ended in divorce after the first sign of trouble because it was based on emotion instead of what love truly is. When the honeymoon phase ended, so did the dedication one toward another, and rapidly after that, the marriage was over.

True Love Suffereth Long

True Love carries a couple through the trials

True Love takes the hits and keeps going (Like the Timex slogan of old - ‘Takes a Lickin’ and keeps on Tickin’

True love carries you through Illnesses & disease, through trauma & physical debilitation

True Love is Longsuffering

God is Longsuffering

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

I don’t know about you, but I’m glad God has in times past patiently endured my foolish decisions & continuation in sin!

I’m glad that when I sinned after the manner of the old man as a Christian, He did not cast me down!

I’m glad that through it all, God’s Love has never failed!

Thank God that He is Longsuffering - and is our example!

God has called us to BE Longsuffering as well

Colossians 3:12-13 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

As Christians we are to be in the likeness of God - and if we are, we will treat one another in the same manner.

We see first off that Love is Longsuffering. Next, we see that Love is Kind

II. Love is Kind (v4b)

Love is Kind

Kind (def) Showing tenderness or goodness; disposed to do good and confer happiness; averse to hurting or paining;

There are people today who claim to love one another, yet their actions toward one another are anything but ‘tender and good’.

My mind goes to what we know as abusive relationships (which are far too prevalent in our society).

(Ill.) You have a ‘husband’ or worse yet ‘boyfriend’ who tells his wife or girlfriend ‘oh, I love you so much’ - right after smacking them across the face.

That’s not Love. In that instance the man may want to relationship out of habit, self-gratification - but it’s not based on Love.

Anther type of abuse is are those who are emotionally abused.

They’re made to feel less than in order to keep them shackled

They’re told they’re fat, ugly, stupid, incompetent - you name it - let me tell you what, THAT’S NOT LOVE! Do you know how I know? Because God said, it ‘is kind’.

If someone truly loves you, they will not make you feel worthless - whether it’s a romantic relationship or simple friendship

Love is Kind

God’s Love is Kind

Aren’t you glad that God’s Love is kind? He shows us tenderness and goodness?

Psalm 33:5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Aren’t you glad that He did?

We’re called to be Kind as well

Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

True Love is Kind

Love is Longsuffering, and it’s Kind. Next, we see that Love is Humble

III. Love is Humble (v4c)

Love Restrains Pride

‘…envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.’

Love will keep us from lifting ourselves above those in which we love.

Ill. If I love you, I will not be envious of God’s blessings toward you, nor will I think of myself better than you. But instead will desire to lift you up instead of myself.

Neither will your partner or friend push you down to lift themselves up!

Love Restrains pride - always seeking the best for those we love.

Jesus was of Humble Spirit

Philippians 2:7-8 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Though Jesus was God incarnate, He raised not Himself up and made the disciples to wash His feet - instead In John 13, Jesus girded Himself with a towel, knelt down and washed THEIR feet!

True love is humble - and if we’re to be like Christ, and love like Christ - we must be humble as well!

We must be Humble

Proverbs 29:23 A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

Proverbs 22:4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

Love is not envious, and is Humble

Love is Longsuffering, and it’s Kind. Next, we see that Love is Humble and next, Love is Upright

IV. Love is Upright (v5a)

Love is Upright

What I mean by that, is that is that love does not manifest itself in wickedness or wickedly or in an unbecoming manner.

If you love someone, your behaviour toward that person will not be of an improper nature. Love does not scheme nor collude. Love is pure and Holy.

Love is Upright

Love is Longsuffering, and it’s Kind. Next, we see that Love is Humble, Love is Upright & Love is Selfless

V. Love is Selfless (v5b)

Does not

Love is Selfless

Love is not seeking what you can GET out of a relationship, but rather what you can GIVE TO a relationship

Love is not looking for something to be DONE for you, but what YOU CAN DO for the other.

I’m sure you’re either familiar with or friends with people who are constantly withdrawing from the relationship, but never making any deposits… ONE WAY friends…?

The Bible says: Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

In other words, you need to be making deposits if you hope for a withdrawal.

Love is Selfless

Jesus was Selfless

I like that song ‘When He was on the Cross - I was on His mind’

2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

Jesus left the glory of Heaven for you and I! That’s a friends that sticketh closer than a brother! When I think of my redemption and consider that the only thing that was ‘in it for Him’ was me… I think of how selfless Jesus really was!

We’re called to be Selfless

Paul said: Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

If we are to accomplish Christ’s Will by being a Reflection of Him, then it must be centered around Selflessness

Love is Selfless

VI. Love Laments Sin (v6)

Love Laments Sin

In other words, love takes no pleasure in the sin or downfall of others.

If I truly love my brothers & sisters in Christ, I will not rejoice if they should fall into sin - rather, I will rejoice when they live out the truth found in the Word of God

(Ill.) Have you noticed that if there were anyone who deserved rejoicing over their downfall it would have been Judas? Judas betrayed the LORD Jesus, yet though the Scriptures speak of Judas’ suicide, neither the LORD or the other Apostles are found rejoicing over his destruction. Do you know why? Because they all loved him!

Love Laments Sin

VII. Love Continues (v7-8a)

Love Continues

There is nothing that Love cannot cover - for it Beareth all things

Love is Trustworthy - for it Believeth all things

Love Gives the Benefit of the Doubt - for it hopeth all things

There is nothing that Love cannot see accomplish - for it Endureth all things

Love NEVER FAILS!

Godly Love is Charity

Now that we’ve examined how God defines Love, we see that in truth, Godly love is charity. Charity being defined ‘Love in Action’ Because:

To Suffer Long is to actively forgive transgressions

To be Kind is to make the choice to act with kindness instead of harsh

To be Humble is to actively suppress our natural tendency of pride

To Cover faults, to trust, to give the benefit of the doubt to endure are all actions we must take

Love Continues

Conclusion

As we examine God’s definition for Love, may we examine the manner in which we love those around us, and the LORD.