Simply Love

1 Corinthians 13:4-8, NLT

4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!

1 Corinthians 13:4–8 NLT

4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!

KEY VERSE: John 13:34-35, NLT. Jesus Speaking.

John 13:34–35 NLT

34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

I. THE UNIQUE VALUE OF LOVE

"From the highest throne in heaven to the most humble dwelling on earth, love both divine and human affairs. So comprehensive is its scope, so intricate its influence, and so elevated its principles, that no single person can comprehend its fullness. Yet, the most humble person can experience it and receive its embrace. The most beautiful language merely suggests its beauty and power, but the human heart can possess both. Love is the most divine expression a person can give or receive" (Hall, 1982, fall, pp. 42-43).

1. Love cannot be purchased, demanded, or even pursued.

2. It can only be given and received.

— Bring up Elayna and give her the biggest hug. —

One of the most touching moments with me being a father was when Elayna was going to be in class. She sat in front of her computer, pushed back her hair, and smiled. She wanted to look the best she could before she went on camera. Something in me broke. Here sat my beautiful baby girl. I didn’t choose to love her, I just did. Every single strand of her crazy hair. Her wonderful smile. Her cute cute face. I realized that my sole responsibility is to make sure she feels love.

A. The Preeminence of Love

1. Love is greater than all other virtues, gifts, talents, abilities, skills, and powers combined.

2. We may be spiritually gifted or have great talents, but if we have not LOVE we are "as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal."

"Three things will last forever - faith, hope, and love - and the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13, NLT).

1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT

13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

3. Why is love greater than faith, prophecy, and the other gifts of the Spirit?

4. Why is it greater than good works, greater than all our talents combined?

a) Because all of these great gifts and qualities of character become cold and dead without love.

b) On the other hand, words that are spoken and works that are done with LOVE provide long lasting effects.

B. People Need to Show Love - it’s good for you!

1. "Kiss Your Troubles Good-bye”

"Nobody has a scientific explanation for it, but a study shows that the benefits of wife-kissing are well worth the effort. Based on an analysis of married life-insurance policyholders in West Germany, the insured husband who regularly kisses his wife before leaving for the office or plant will, compared to the non-kissing husband: Live 5 years longer, have fewer automobile accidents, be away from work 50 percent fewer days because of illness, and earn about 25 percent more money. No precise explanation? Who needs one?

"The kiss when he leaves-just a gesture? Oh no! It's sunlight for the rest of the day. Two people let each other know the joy of being appreciated. The kiss is a seal of faithfulness. Any man can face the day better after he's looked into the glowing face of a woman who knows she's loved, and who says to him in this simple gesture: "You are my husband. I am your wife. We have each other. We have a lot going for us.

"Of course, words get in the way. So it's said with a kiss.

"Kid stuff, you say? Well, you're wrong. Husband and wife not only need to love each other, they need to show it. And they need to show it in a hundred little ways. The fewer big ways are not quite as important. Love thrives on a little attention, a little respect, a little praise, a little genuine affection, a little snack together, a smile, a squeeze.

"There's nothing lovely as the love that a man and a woman can have for each other. But the modern man isn't especially noted for his common sense in the treatment of his wife. He doesn't try to continue the courtship. He doesn't bother to put a little romance into his marriage. Then he wonders why life goes stale for him.

"So when you're around your wife, man, pucker up. One study shows you'll live longer-and you'll certainly live better. And your marriage will be more of the picture of heaven that God intended it to be" (Horban, 1974, p. 7).

The power of love go far beyond just husband and wife.

Children benefit from loving parents

Brothers and sisters benefit from loving siblings

Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, nieces, nephews

The person across the aisle, they all need LOVE!

2. But it is very sad if we say we love God, but fail to show love to those closest to us.

"If any man say, I love God, and hateth his brother (or wife, or husband, child, or friend), he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" (1 John 4:20, KJV).

1 John 4:20 KJV 1900

20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

C. The Power of Love

"Love is strong as death" (Song of Solomon 8:6, KJV).

Song of Solomon 8:6 NLT

6 Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as enduring as the grave. Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame.

1. Throughout the Bible God chose love to bring together a husband, a wife, and their children as beautiful examples for us to see.

The story of Ruth & Boaz

"Whither thou goest, I will go: and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me" (Ruth 1:16-18, KJV).

Ruth 1:16–18 KJV 1900

16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. 18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

The story of Jacob & Rachel

"Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had for her" (Genesis 29:20, KJV).

Genesis 29:20 KJV 1900

20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

2. It was the Jews that cried, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" But it was love that took Jesus to the cross to die for his bride, the church.

D. The Definition of Love

How can we define, describe, or know what love is?

1. Phileo refers to love on the level of friendship or brotherly love.

— to have a great affection or care for or loyalty towards.

— to find very enjoyable or agreeable.

2. Agape is a much deeper love. It is the love that took Jesus to the cross to die for us, and it is the love of a mother for her child.

John 15:13 KJV 1900

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

II. THE CHARACTER OF LOVE

1. Thread by thread, Paul examined the individual colors, or virtues, intricately woven in Agape love.

2. He displays them for us in 1 Corinthians 13,

1 Corinthians 13 NLT

1 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 9 Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! 10 But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless. 11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 12 Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. 13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

A. Long Suffering and Kindness

1. Love is patient & longsuffering.

longsuffering: having or showing patience in spite of troubles, especially those caused by other people.

2. Who likes to suffer? We do our best to avoid it. At all costs. At all times.

3. But how many families or relationships would still be intact if only someone had loved?

4. How many marriages would have survived and how many children would still have two parents if love had been practiced?

5. Love suffereth long. It must.

6. It will allow us to tolerate unbearable people and situations. You know who they are.. ;)

"Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united int the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace." (Ephesians 4:2-3, NLT)

Ephesians 4:2–3 NLT

2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

7. When it is necessary to correct someone, the following instruction is given:

"Patiently (with longsuffering) correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching" (2 Timothy 4:2, KJV).

2 Timothy 4:2 NLT

2 Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

8. This would eliminate such regrets as, "If only I had thought, or listened, before I spoke, or struck, or lashed out."

9. Love is kind. When love is present, so is kindness.

Think about that. When you genuinely love someone it is so much easier to show kindness. Go figure.

10. Phillips (1972) translates "love is kind," as "looking for ways to be constructive" (p. 361). This eliminates a spirit of brow beating, mocking, ridicule, or undermining self-confidence in family members.

"The greatest thing a man can do for his Heavenly Father is to be kind to some of His other children" (Drummond, 2007, p. 19).

B. Love Envieth Not; Love Is Never Jealous

1. Love is generous without thought of getting anything in return.

2. Envy and bitterness go hand in hand, and if left unchecked, they are like cancer that will consume the whole body.

"I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" (Philippians 4:11, KJV).

Philippians 4:11 KJV 1900

11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

C. Love Is Not Boastful

1. Love is not not proud, it is not puffed up.

2. Love is humble.

3. Love places others ahead of self.

D. Love Is Polite & Considerate

1. Love does not behave itself improperly.

2. Love is never rude; it is courteous.

4. The ability to recognize and allow for another's faults and shortcomings will prevent many arguments and hurt feelings.

E. Love Is Not Selfish

1. You can never take love; you can only give and receive it.

2. Parents often do without in order that children may have.

3. 1 Kings, chapter 3, tells of two women who brought children into the world at about the same time.

a) One accidentally suffocated her child by lying on it while sleeping.

b) She replaced her dead child with the other woman's living child.

c) They then took their dispute to Solomon.

d) Knowing the strength of love, Solomon asked a soldier to bring a sword and cut the remaining child into two parts, and give each woman one half.

e) Love identified the real mother. She was willing to give up her child rather than see it killed.

4. God judges us not only by what we give but also by what we keep.

"The even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28, NLT).

Matthew 20:28 NLT

28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

“OTHERS”

Lord help me to live from day to day

In such a self-forgetful way

That even when I kneel to pray

My prayers will be for others.

Help me in all the work I do

To ever be sincere and true

And know that all I do for You

Must needs be done for others.

Let 'self’ be crucified and slain.

And buried deep, and all in vain

May efforts be to rise again

Unless to live for others

And when my work on earth is done,

And my new work in heaven's begun

May I forget the crown I've won

While thinking still of others.

Others Lord, yes others!

Let this my motto be,

Help me to live for others,

That I may live for Thee"

(Charles D. Meigs, as cited in The Blind Beggar).

F. Love Is Self-controlled

1. Love is not easily provoked.

2. Love is not touchy, irritable, resentful, or easily offended.

3. Love has a good temper.

4. There are two great classes of sins — sins of the body and sins of the character.

5. The Prodigal Son may be taken as a type of the first, the Elder Brother of the second

"No form of vice, not worldliness, not greed of gold, not drunkenness itself, does more to un-Christianize society than evil temper" (Drummond, 2007, p. 26).

I once did an art project. I got a bad grade and gave my teacher a bad attitude. My father taught me a lesson that day.

“You may be having a bad day, but you don’t have to prove it to everyone.”

G. Love Doesn't Keep Score

1. Love thinks no evil.

2. The New International Version renders this clause, "Love keeps no record of wrongs."

3. This is the concept of forgiveness we should remember.

4. Once one has asked for forgiveness, the slate is wiped clean.

5. This is essential if the family is to be knit together.

6. If forgiveness is absent, whenever stress arises, old stones are thrown at one another. And that hurts.

7. Love looks to the future and is uninterested in keeping score.

H. Love Hates Sin

Love rejoices not in evil or wickedness but rejoices in truth and goodness.

III. THE PERMANENCE OF LOVE

1. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

2. Love is an optimist.

3. Love believes the best of all even when there might be some rough edges or the good is not easily seen.

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true... honest.. just pure lovely...of good report if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Philippians 4:8 , KJV).

Philippians 4:8 KJV 1900

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

God found potential in dirt. Don’t give up on anybody.

Genesis 2:7 NLT

7 Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.

4. Love. NEVER. fails

Romans 8:38–39 NLT

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

CONCLUSION

Matthew 22:37–40 NLT

37 Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

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.

Psalm 103:1–18 NLT

1 Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. 2 Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. 3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. 4 He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. 5 He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s! 6 The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly. 7 He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel. 8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. 9 He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. 10 He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. 11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. 12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. 13 The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. 14 For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust. 15 Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. 16 The wind blows, and we are gone— as though we had never been here. 17 But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him. His salvation extends to the children’s children 18 of those who are faithful to his covenant, of those who obey his commandments!