Charity suffereth Long

Text: I Corinthians 13.4

Intro:

NOTE: It is important to note here that this is not just general truths concerning love. I do believe this to be the greatest dissertation on the subject of love, but do not confuse great teaching on love by pulling it away from it's target audience. I wish to remind you that I Corinthians is written to a church in the city of Corinth. This church was in desperate need to learn how to live in love with and for one another.

There was division over silly things. This division was because of carnality, self-interest, and self-exultation. Literally this church was killing the body to exalt one piece.

Chapter 13 is what we could call a transition chapter. In the first 12 chapter Paul is blasting this church for sin, and selfishness. But he is attempting to take the church to a big picture of what they could be. He is having a vision night for this church. He is on purpose setting their sights on some greater thing they have yet to experience. So this transition includes what they are missing and what is the cure - charity.

I. The Unnatural Idea of Love

We would all agree that we should love one another. The harsh reality is that sometimes it's easier to love starving children half-way around the world than it is to love the brother down the pew. In fact it is in the old man in our old nature to reject the idea of unity. Eph 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. According to Paul it is unnatural in fact we have to work at it as the spirit produces the fruit of unity and peace.

In fact in our culture and in history there have been natural processes at work that have torn the idea of love. Many that come to church and hear the word love are many times contemplating idolatry.

Some of cultures love destroyers.

1. Individualism - I don't need you.

Lone Ranger, Superman, Indiana Jones, Wesley, Luther. We idolize individualism in our country to the point that we make individual heroes out of those that could never accomplish what they did on their own. - Benjamin Franklin, Fredrick, Douglas, Abraham Lincoln.

Every attachment is negotiable. We are free agents, and every relationship and life station is a contract that can be negotiated or canceled... I retain veto power over everything." - Jonathan Leman

Our world doesn't make heroes out of the farmer and his wife that have loved each other and stayed faithful for fifty years.

2. Romance - If you love me, you will let me feel it. The world is made by people that are wanting to feel anything. The idea of Romantic love was given a platform by Luther the unregenerate monk that struck out at his bosses in the catholic church.

Leeman sheds light on the trouble with romance.

For the romantic lover, the point of absolute moral reference was an exclusive fidelity to the love relationship and its maximization. All other social ties - familial, class, religious, professional, ect. - became secondary and, finally, expendable for the sake of preserving this primary human relationship. - Jonathan Leman

3. Self-Expression - If you love me, you will let me be me.

This expresses itself in the church by caring more about your own spiritual gifts than service to others. This attitude has brought an outcropping of "Self-Help" manuals in local Christianity.

4. Consumerism

If you love me, you will let me be a better me. People come to the relationship like they do a super market. What do you offer me.

5. Commitment Phobia

If you love me, you will let me be.

"The drive to pursue happiness in the negotiations and renegotiations of our various contracts means making sure that no contract is too binding."

We are less likely to join clubs, civic entities. And it increases with each generation.

6. Skepticism

If you love me, you will meet my criteria for love. Skepticism removes the need of openness. I don't have to be accepted by you. You need to just accept me. Which means we have to move to an "anything goes" attitude. You can imaging what this fluid idea of love does to churches and the standard of holiness.

7. Pragmatism

If you love me, you will take me where I want to go. Pragmatism is inevitable. Everything is done for what is best for me right now. Doesn't see like a big deal but churches choosing to define love in this manner has brought about a movement that must quantify everything. They have to measure for them the good right now. And lead churches based on the last statistical model instead of following the head Christ. Instead of reaching to the world in LOVE - that is following the LORD. Churches are built around gimmicks and rock bands.

II. What is Love?

Love is longsuffering and kind.

Luke 10:30–36 KJV 1900

And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

Jesus gives an answer by way of parable. This parable is one that you and I know well. This parable is the Good Samaritan. In the good Samaritan we watch as this man rejects all seven points of the worlds idea of love to help this hurt man.

RETELL STORY

Individualism Rejected - "went to him"

This of course shines on the hatred of the Levite, and the

priest.

Romance & Self-expression Rejected - "compassion on him" this was not about who he was it was directed to the hurting man.

Consumerism Rejected - "bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine". His own resources in use.

Commitment Phobia - "he took out two pence, and gave them ot the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee."

Skepticism - "Thinkest thou" To put it plainly this is the character of Christ and he is asking them to judge him for what he would do.

If you love me, you will meet my criteria for love. Skepticism removes the need of openness. I don't have to be accepted by you. You need to

just accept me. Which means we have to move to an "anything

goes" attitude. You can imaging what this fluid idea of love does to churches and the standard of holiness.

7. Pragmatism

If you love me, you will take me where I want to go. Pragmatism is inevitable. Everything is done for what is best for me right now. Doesn't see like a big deal but churches choosing to define love in this manner has brought about a movement that must quantify everything. They have to measure for them the good right now. And lead churches based on the last statistical model instead of following the head Christ.

Instead of reaching to the world in LOVE - that is following the LORD. Churches are built around gimmicks and rock bands.

Here is the problem modern love knows nothing of real suffering.

It is tenuous at best.

It is strained by selfishness

It is taxed by thoughtlessness

It is pulled by problems

It is maxed by misfortune

It is ended by expectations

It is hurt by hardship

It is stopped with suffering

It is Diverted with deprivation

It is Done at Destitution

It is Wounded at Want

I remind you that in the parable of the Samaratan

The Religious leaders were the religious ignorers of pain.

The hurting and abused were the sinners of that day and this day.

Jesus was the Samaritan.

He is the longsuffering outcast. Denied and rejected even of the one to whom he extends mercy. You and I are merely reflecting the mercy that we have had extended to us.