1 Corinthians 13 Real Love: A multifaceted gem
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Why doesn’t everyone who goes to Crater of Diamonds State Park doesn’t come home with beautiful gems?
Here we are. (not really us, but it looks like when we went)
Looking through this mess of dirt (2 slides).
No luck. We saw nothing that looked like it had any value.
Now this is what a 3.8 carat gem looks like taken from Crater of Diamonds.
No wonder we missed all those diamonds. Doesn’t look like much.
Here is a 2 carat that is gem quality from Siberia that is still uncut.
A bit nicer. But still not overwhelming.
But you take a similar stone and cut it so that its many facets reflect light in all its brilliance, you take an unimpressive rock and show off its immense value.
We talk about love. We even exhibit bits of it at times. But if examine what the Bible says it should be, we discover many different facets. And when all these facets are on display, it is brilliant for all to see.
Paul gives us the picture of love it all its beauty.
It is this love that the Lord has shown for us.
It is this love that we should exhibit in our relationships. (spouse, friends, other Christians)
It is this love that we should exhibit in the church. (In fact, Paul gives this description in a fuller discussion of how the church services should occur)
Let’s examine what Biblical Love looks like – A multifaceted gem.
I. Biblical Love, a multifaceted gem: Displays graciousness v 4a
I. Biblical Love, a multifaceted gem: Displays graciousness v 4a
(ESV) 1 Corinthians 13 4 Love is patient and kind; …
A. Waits patiently
A. Waits patiently
(ESV) 1 Corinthians 13 4 Love is patient and kind; …
1. Long-tempered – almost exclusively with people
1. Long-tempered – almost exclusively with people
2. Has the power to retaliate but doesn’t
2. Has the power to retaliate but doesn’t
3. Puts up with difficult people
3. Puts up with difficult people
4. Contrast with Greeks – virtue to not let anything get by – take vengeance
4. Contrast with Greeks – virtue to not let anything get by – take vengeance
5. 2 Pet 3.9 – God patient – not wishing any to perish
5. 2 Pet 3.9 – God patient – not wishing any to perish
(ESV) 2 Peter 3 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
How the Lord loves you.
How we should love those around us
How we should respond in the church
B. Shows kindness
B. Shows kindness
4…love is … kind.
1. Verb rare – Paul coined the term – action
1. Verb rare – Paul coined the term – action
2. Thoughtful, helpful, pleasant, comforting, goodwill in action
2. Thoughtful, helpful, pleasant, comforting, goodwill in action
3. The kindness of God leads to repentance (rom 2:4)
3. The kindness of God leads to repentance (rom 2:4)
(ESV) Romans 2 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
How the Lord loves you.
How we should love those around us
How we should respond in the church
II. Biblical Love, a multifaceted gem: Not about me v 4b-5a
II. Biblical Love, a multifaceted gem: Not about me v 4b-5a
(ESV) 1 Corinthians 13 4 … love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way;
Jesus did not let His position as God as worthy to be held on to – but made humbled Himself and came to die for our sins
A. Does not burn with envy
A. Does not burn with envy
4…It does not envy,
1. Burning, boiling emotionally
1. Burning, boiling emotionally
2. Strong desire
2. Strong desire
3. Desire what another has
3. Desire what another has
4. Drives to greater sin, lack of contentment
4. Drives to greater sin, lack of contentment
How the Lord loves you. / those around us / in the church
B. Does not brag
B. Does not brag
4…it does not boast, (not arrogant)
1. Desire for others to want what you have
1. Desire for others to want what you have
2. Have nothing to brag about – all from God
2. Have nothing to brag about – all from God
How the Lord loves you.
How we should love those around us
How we should respond in the church
C. Does not inflate its own importance
C. Does not inflate its own importance
4…it is not proud.
1. Puffed up , fill with air
1. Puffed up , fill with air
2. Attention seeking, impress others
2. Attention seeking, impress others
How the Lord loves you.
How we should love those around us
How we should respond in the church
D. Does not behave with ill-mannered impropriety
D. Does not behave with ill-mannered impropriety
5 It is not rude,
1. Thoughtless pursuit of one’s own wishes regardless of conventions of what is viewed as appropriate
1. Thoughtless pursuit of one’s own wishes regardless of conventions of what is viewed as appropriate
2. Unconcerned about feelings of others
2. Unconcerned about feelings of others
3. No displays of grace and consideration
3. No displays of grace and consideration
4. Courtesy, good taste, good manners
4. Courtesy, good taste, good manners
How the Lord loves you.
How we should love those around us
How we should respond in the church
E. Not preoccupied with self
E. Not preoccupied with self
5…it is not self-seeking, --- not insist on its own way
1. Self centered
1. Self centered
2. Not focused only on how it impacts me
2. Not focused only on how it impacts me
3. Eros – seeks to possess the object of love for my own – gratify self
3. Eros – seeks to possess the object of love for my own – gratify self
4. Surrender rights – actively benefit others seeks the other’s interests
4. Surrender rights – actively benefit others seeks the other’s interests
How the Lord loves you.
How we should love those around us
How we should respond in the church
III. Biblical Love, a multifaceted gem: Deals with wrong appropriately v 5b-6
III. Biblical Love, a multifaceted gem: Deals with wrong appropriately v 5b-6
(ESV) 1 Corinthians 13 5 … it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
A. Cannot be provoked into a sharp response
A. Cannot be provoked into a sharp response
5…it is not easily angered, (not irritable)
1. Being punctured by a sharp object - wounded
1. Being punctured by a sharp object - wounded
2. A sudden outburst of emotion
2. A sudden outburst of emotion
3. Like an atomic bomb – it destroys and keeps destroying
3. Like an atomic bomb – it destroys and keeps destroying
4. Doesn’t get exasperated
4. Doesn’t get exasperated
5. Isn’t wounded to a point of reaction
5. Isn’t wounded to a point of reaction
How the Lord loves you.
Longsuffering not willing any should perish
How we should love those around us
How we should respond in the church
B. Does not keep grudges
B. Does not keep grudges
5… it keeps no record of wrongs. (resentful)
1. Accounting term – record to an account
1. Accounting term – record to an account
2. Keep a permanent record of a wrong committed
2. Keep a permanent record of a wrong committed
3. Brood over injury
3. Brood over injury
4. Like God blotting out our sin (does not count our sin against us)
4. Like God blotting out our sin (does not count our sin against us)
5. Bitterness never has a chance to sprout
5. Bitterness never has a chance to sprout
How the Lord loves you.
As far as the east is from the west – so our sins are taken away
How we should love those around us
How we should respond in the church
C. Does not take pleasure at another’s failure
C. Does not take pleasure at another’s failure
6 Love does not delight in evil (not rejoice at wrongdoing)
1. Take joy when someone falls
1. Take joy when someone falls
2. Gossip
2. Gossip
How the Lord loves you.
Jesus looked upon the city that would reject Him and wept
How we should love those around us
How we should respond in the church
D. Rejoices when others do what’s right
D. Rejoices when others do what’s right
6…but rejoices with the truth.
1. Joyful celebration – genuine – of integrity
1. Joyful celebration – genuine – of integrity
2. When the truth wins out
2. When the truth wins out
How the Lord loves you.
Well done good and faithful servant
How we should love those around us
How we should respond in the church
IV. Biblical Love, a multifaceted gem: Has no limits v 7-8, 13
IV. Biblical Love, a multifaceted gem: Has no limits v 7-8, 13
(ESV) 1 Corinthians 13 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
A. Never tires of support
A. Never tires of support
7 It always protects, bears all things,
1. Roof imagery – covering – load bearing wall not just for show
1. Roof imagery – covering – load bearing wall not just for show
2. Carries the burden of others, feels the pain
2. Carries the burden of others, feels the pain
3. Acts to alleviate it
3. Acts to alleviate it
How the Lord loves you.
How we should love those around us
How we should respond in the church
B. Never loses faith
B. Never loses faith
7…always trusts, believes all things
1. Is not suspicious or cynical (not naïve, but not negative about everything)
1. Is not suspicious or cynical (not naïve, but not negative about everything)
2. Desires to expect the best
2. Desires to expect the best
How the Lord loves you.
How we should love those around us
How we should respond in the church
C. Never exhausts hope
C. Never exhausts hope
7… always hopes, hopes all things
1. Expects positive things from people
1. Expects positive things from people
2. Even when faith is broken – looks for a glimmer of hope
2. Even when faith is broken – looks for a glimmer of hope
How the Lord loves you.
How we should love those around us
How we should respond in the church
D. Never gives up
D. Never gives up
7…always perseveres. (endures all things)
1. Endures set backs from people
1. Endures set backs from people
2. Military term – hold a position at all costs
2. Military term – hold a position at all costs
3. Even when all hope seems lost – it refuses to give up – trusting in God
3. Even when all hope seems lost – it refuses to give up – trusting in God
How the Lord loves you.
How we should love those around us
How we should respond in the church
E. Love continues forever
E. Love continues forever
(ESV) 1 Corinthians 13 8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. … 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Endures when all else will end
1. Eternal
1. Eternal
How the Lord loves you.
How we should those around us
How we should respond in the church
This love reflects the character of God. This is the love that is normal for the Christian to reflect.
Toward spouse.
Toward each other.
How do that?
1. Make sure that you are a child of God
2. Recognize your inadequacy
3. Seek and ask Him to transform you
4. Build into your life the elements to be transformed as a Christian
a. Time with Him
b. In His Word
c. Prayer
d. Joining with God’s people consistently
e. Repenting and moving away from known sin
f. Yielding to do whatever He prompts you to do