Love Works 7
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Text: I Corinthians 13:4-5
Intro:
It is amazing to me how we have turned our churches in America today into self help shops. In popular Christianity the church is not a congregation of born again believers in pursuit of pleasing Christ through following him in unity. It is instead a place where individuals can come and get what they want and then leave the rest. We have turned the church into nothing more that a self help section of a Barnes and Noble. This is a vulgarity that will destroy the countries patience with true bible-believing church.
Not to mention the fact that in America we have such a love relationship with knowledge that we believe it to be the cure for everything. Simple is sinful in this country. We have to have more knowledge so that we can feel better about ourselves and any thing less that learning is abhorred.
Christ said it would be a tale-tell sign of the disciple (local church) that we would love one another. This is then supported by the fact that he serves in washing feet.
Illustration:
There is a warning here from Paul about how the church views itself in the extension of love. There are four specific clarifying remarks
Vaunteth not itself
Is not puffed up
Not behave unseemly
Seeketh not her own
Not easily provoked
Thinketh no evil
Since Paul’s description of love includes eight negated verbs, his primary concern is with the Corinthians’ behavior, which demonstrates a lack of love.
“Charity Envieth not;” The first assertion that “love does not envy” recalls the jealous and strife of 3:3 where Paul accused them of fleshly behavior and walking according to mere men.
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Vaunteth not itself , Is not puffed up: These two ideas work together, they are to be treated as two descriptors but they are giving understanding to the other. They are synonymous.
And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.
And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
Taken together these designations of what love does not do recalls Paul’s sharp criticisms of the Corinthians’ arrogance
That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
To be inflated with pride and to brag is the very opposite of what love does, which is to “build up”.
Not behave unseemly - “is not rude,” also translates a rare term. The verb occurs only here and in 7:36, where Paul describes the improper actions of a man toward his fiancee, depending on how one interprets 7:25–38.
But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
This usually points to shameful behavior, often with sexual overtones, and can mean to act in defiance of social and moral standards.
Scripture uses this type of Cognate nouns:
in Rom 1:27 of shameful male homosexual relations,
in Jude 13 of the shame of false teachers, and
in Eph 5:4 of behavior inappropriate for God’s people.
There are, of course, numerous places in 1 Corinthians where shameful behavior has been of great concern.
There has been no shame over the behavior of the incestuous man (5:1–13) or
In taking one another to court (6:1–8)
Related to head coverings (11:2–16)
Treatment of the poor at the Lord’s meal (11:17–34).
What is being described is that there is behavior that a Christian should do and behavior that is outside the normal way for a Christian to act. We should know that somethings are shameful.
Seeketh not her own - This is something that Paul has already dealt with as a church. In I Cor 10.24
Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.
Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.
Paul’s gives the idea to the church that it is perfectly normal and good to be concerned with the good of others.
Not easily provoked - the only other use is in Acts 17:16 of Paul’s great distress when he saw the city of Athens given over to idols. In the passive voice the term means “to become irritated or angry.”
Paul was looking at the foolish divisions in the congregation and taking into account the passions that drove them to selfish and familial breaks. That come when people hold on to wrongs and slights. It is an unforgiving church that remembers the essential fodder for quick anger. A church that keeps no record of wrongs that are harder to break.
The term “suggests that the one who has love does not succumb to any sort of irate self-justification.” - Mark Taylor
Thinketh no evil - Just as demonstrating patience and showing kindness to others imitates God’s love for us in Christ (see above on 13:4), so also “to keep no record of wrongs” reflects the character of God. It is possible that he is pointing out the fact that the church had forgotten the shame of taking other Christians before the court to solve problems instead of taking a personal loss or going to the church for help.
Conclusion: Of course we know that this is disgusting to Christ and he hated every self serving act of the Pharisee. He would attack their ostentation ever time he got the opportunity. And really we couldn’t blame him It was disgusting the actions these men would go through.
But we don’t do this do we. Can I remind you that the reason we hate this kind of action this self serving love is because it lacks purity. Its motivation is not true care and compassion but instead it is filled with serving ourselves.
Can I say that there are times that we are all tempted. Just because we don’t do something for applause doesn’t mean we did it for the right reason.
What about
Appeasing a conscience
Keeping up with Jones
Hating Change
What Paul has done is boiled all the carnality, licentiousness, irreverence and anger into one problem. You stopped loving.
Jesus was the antithesis of self focused love...
Calvary says the perfect description of I Corinthians 13.4-5.
Calvary doesn’t Brag on itself - You take it or leave it. Calvary will never force you.
Calvary is not puffed up
Calvary doesn’t behave unseemly
Calvary seeketh not her own
Calvary is not easily provoked
Calvary thinketh no evil