Sunday, March 25, 2012 pm
STUDIES IN 1 CORINTHIANS
– 44
The Attributes of Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
In
our last lesson we discussed the importance of Christian love (agape)
(13:1-3) and noted how this
chapter belongs here and how love is “a more excellent way” than
spiritual gifts. In our
lesson today, we are going to notice how Paul describes Christian love –
or the attributes that are manifest when Christian love is present.
We will make personal application and application to the text at
hand (how these attitudes would help them resolve their disputes over
spiritual gifts).
a.
NOTE: Some say this text
is a definition of love.
That depends on what you mean by definition.
It is actually a description of love.
Please note that while each attribute is important and worthy of
examination (which we will do), godly love possesses ALL of these
attributes (much like the “fruit of the Spirit” in Gal. 5:22-23 are
attributes of it).
b.
Love suffers long – a word that means “to be patient, to bear with.” (Vine’s).
“To demonstrate patience despite difficulties” – (L&N, 25.168)
The word is actually a compound word combining “long” and “temper.”
We hear of those with a “short temper.”
This is the opposite.
2 Pet. 3:9 – the Lord is “longsuffering toward us, not willing that any
should perish.”
1 Thess. 5:14 says, “…Be patient with all.”
This is certainly a trait we could all use in dealing with others. How
much are we willing to endure from others, even being wronged,
especially if it will mean glory to God?
c.
Love is kind – I like this word as it describes one who acts with goodness and
pleasantness toward others.
The word is found only here, though forms of the word are found in other
places (often translated “kindness”, “goodness” or “gentleness” - cf.
Gal. 5:22, 2 Cor. 6:6, Rom. 11:22 – the “goodness of God”, Titus 3:4,
Eph. 4:32, “be kind to one another”, etc.)
I describe kindness as a universal language – you can always show
kindness to others and often times it makes a difference in how
situations are handled.
Furthermore, acts of kindness can influence the lives of others.
A couple of years ago, I read in a book where someone reminded me that
when dealing with people in the public, sometimes they act in an unkind
way. Rather than
retaliating, choose to be kind to them – we don’t know what they are going
through. There may be
reasons for their bitterness or gruff behavior.
Our kindness can be a bright shining light, reflecting Jesus
Christ, to them (cf. Matt. 5:16).
Who knows where such an attitude will lead?
How do you show kindness? SMILE!
Choose your words carefully!
Do little acts, such as hold doors open, yield to others in the
parking lot, etc.
d.
Love does not envy – the word “envy” means to experience strong resentment
against someone. It often
involves jealousy. (L&N, 88.163)
Interestingly, the Greek word used here is ζηλόω (zeloo), a
derivative of the word from which we get our word zeal (cf. Rev. 3:19,
Gal. 4:18).
Clearly, envy is a sin we must seek to avoid – James 3:14-16 warns us
that were envy and self-seeking exists, results in confusion and evil.
1 Cor. 3:3 says, “for you are still carnal.
For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are
you not carnal and behaving like mere men?”
Also Rom. 13:13
With great effort we need to seek to overcome jealousy and envy against
others. It is an attitude
that will extinguish godly love and blind us to the workings of others.
e.
Love does not parade itself – a word found only here and deals with one who brags about
himself to elevate his standing over others.
L&N (33.369) says, “to praise
oneself excessively.” It is
described as “arrogance in speech.”
Do we need to work on this with our speech?
Do we ever find ourselves comparing ourselves with ourselves (cf.
2 Cor. 10:12-13)
f.
Love is not puffed up – this is the attitude of arrogance that leads to one
parading himself before others.
Paul has already dealt with this in at least 5 times in this letter (1
Cor. 4:6, 18-19, 5:2, 8:1).
Consider 1 Cor. 4:6 where we are admonished to respect the boundaries of
God’s word we then read, “that none of you be puffed up on behalf of one
against the other.” Also 1
Cor. 8:1 says, “Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.”
An inflated ego clearly hinders the resolution of whatever problems
exist between us.
g.
Love does not behave rudely - L&N (88.148) defines the word as, “to act in defiance of
social and moral standards, with resulting disgrace, embarrassment and
shame – ‘to act shamefully, indecent behavior, shameful deed.’”
We all know what it means to be rude.
We live in a society that seems to be driven by rudeness – on the
road, in public places of all sorts, on the internet, in our
correspondence and even in our media.
Rudeness is the opposite of kindness.
It also fails to accomplish what needs to be done.
According to this word, we ought to act in a dignified manner – not
unduly bringing embarrassment upon the Lord and His cause, or our
brethren.
h.
Love does not seek its own – this is descriptive of one who is given over to selfish
pursuits. This is the one
who thinks about himself in all that he does.
His decisions are governed by what he gets out of something.
We are commanded in Phil. 2:3-4 to look out for the interests of others.
Rom. 15:1-2 says, rather than pleasing ourselves, “Let each of us please
his neighbor for his own good., leading to edification.”
i.
Love is not provoked – a word that means to be stirred up or stimulated.
(Used here and in Acts 17:16 where Paul’s spirit was provoked in
Athens because of their idolatry.)
In our context, it is obviously speaking of someone who becomes
upset and reacts rashly. We
speak of those who lose their temper or those who are easily.
This is in contrast to the self-control we are commanded to exhibit – (2
Pet. 1:5-7, Gal. 5:23, Ac 24:25).
j.
Love thinks no evil
- The NASU renders this, “does not take into account a wrong
suffered.”
The word “thinks” is descriptive of one who keeps a record of events for
the sake of some future action. (L&N, 29.4).
It is a word used some 41 times in the NT and is sometimes
translated, “reckon, imputed, accounted, and consider.
Here the word is include in the expression, “thinks no evil”
which means one keeps record of the wrongs of others (perhaps towards
himself OR just a list that he can use later against that person).
The point is that one with love doesn’t DWELL ON how he has been
mistreated or wronged in a given circumstance.
This is one who lets go of the past, forgives and moves on.
He is not ruled by resentment or bitterness because of how some
situation developed.
This is one who WANTS the best and is not going to let his personal
feelings and hurts hinder that from happening.
k.
Loves Does not rejoice in iniquity – the idea of iniquity is that of sin.
In Luke 13:27 Jesus said, “Depart from Me, all you workers of
iniquity.” The word is found
some 25 times in the NT and is at times translated as “unrighteousness.”
The idea of our text is that when we have love, we are not going to
rejoice in things that are evil, NOR in bad things that happen to
others, even our enemies.
l.
Love rejoices in truth – instead of reveling in unrighteousness, we crave truth and
when we see it upheld or that it is victorious, we celebrate and are
joyful.
This is one who WANTS what is right and will be grateful about it, even
if means greater credit or reward for someone else.
m.
Love bears all things – L&N (25.177) defines this word as, “to put up with
annoyance or difficulty.” It
presents the idea of concealing or covering something up, i.e. to keep
secret or silent (Kittel).
The word is used 4 times in the NT including 1 Cor. 9:12 which says, “Nevertheless
we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder
the gospel of Christ.”
IN our text, we are reminded that love keeps things to itself when it is
for the best. Whether it be
you being wronged, another is being praised over you, or you have
“opportunity” to expose another.
Obviously we are not speaking of ignoring sinful conduct, but the
point is when your silence or your absorbing a blow is for the good of a
situation, you take it. I am
reminded of 1 Pet. 2:24 which speaking of Christ says, “who
Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died
to sins, might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you are healed.”
(NOTE: The word “bore” in this text is a different word, but it portrays
the idea)
NOTE: In this and the next 3 characteristics notice how Paul says, “all
things” – meaning it is something we are willing to continually do.
n.
Love believes all things – this is not describing a gullible mind, but rather an
optimistic one. You want
what is good and when possible that is “the spin” you put on a
situation, i.e. we give “the benefit of the doubt.”
Far too many assume the worst and react accordingly.
The result is that one is presumed guilty until he can prove his
innocence. We see it in the
news media all the time AND in our attempts to divine motives of others
without thorough investigation, especially in religion.
One of the reasons Jesus was rejected by His accusers was because they
assumed the worst in His motives and actions.
o.
Love hopes all things – following up on believing all things, not only do we give
the benefit of the doubt, we HOPE that such is so.
I.e. we don’t give the benefit of the doubt with reluctance.
Furthermore, even when there are adverse circumstances, we hope for the
best outcome.
p.
Love endures all things – similar to meaning as “bears all things” the word here goes
further in that it describes persistence in that which we bear.
You might say that love “keeps on enduring never giving up.”
In Matt. 10:22, Jesus speaking of the troubles and trials His disciples
would face said, “And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.
But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
2 Tim. 2:10-12 says, “Therefore I
endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain
the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory…If we endure,
we shall also reign with Him.”
q.
OBSERVATION:
Each of these attributes is a present tense verb, meaning ongoing
action. These are things we
do not do just once, but continually in our lives these need to be
present and in use. When
necessary, they are activated and govern our conduct.
r.
Love never fails!
This means that it will endure to the end, when other things break down.
It NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, EVER fails!
We need to let this love be our default mindset.
One of the mantra’s of the restoration movement in the late 18th & early
19th centuries was, “In matters of faith let there be unity;
in matters of opinion let there be liberty; in all things let there be
love.”
Paul uses this statement as a transition into the temporary nature of
spiritual gifts – which we will address in our next lesson.
a.
The text we have been
discussing is worthy of consideration in EVERY circumstance we face
whether good or bad. This is
a good text to commit to memory and extensive study, especially when we
are faced with problems.
b.
Consider how each of
these attributes would have contributed to a proper attitude toward one
another in dealing with the diversity of spiritual gifts they had.
IF love:
i.
Suffers long – they
would have with patience work through their attitudes and supported
those with other spiritual gifts.
ii.
Is kind – they would
have carefully chosen what they said and did
iii.
Does not envy – they
would not have been jealous and acted upon it
iv.
Does not parade itself
or is not puffed up – they would not have seen their diversity of gifts
as a competition. There
would have been no need for them to act to elevate themselves.
v.
Does not behave rudely –
their kind attitude would have regulated their actions.
They would act so as to bring embarrassment to the church instead
of glory.
vi.
Does not seek its own –
they would have thought about the good of the body instead of their
personal glory.
vii.
Is not provoked – they
would not have been chided into unseemly behavior to be regretted and
that caused division
viii.
Thinks no evil – they
would not dwell on past hurts and let the glory of others bother them.
ix.
Does not rejoice in
iniquity, but rejoices in truth – they would want what is best for
everyone in the body (and without) and would genuinely celebrate the
good that was accomplished, while grieving at all things that are wrong
(including the divisive attitude that was so prevalent there).
x.
Bears all
things, believes all things, hopes all things & endures all
things – they would live and act being governed by love in ALL things.
c.
All you have to do is go
down the list and you can see how if EVERYONE possessed these qualities,
the problems would have evaporated.
BUT, even if both parties did not have a proper attitude, if ONE
party does it will make the situation that much better.
With that in mind, when we are dealing with a difficult
situation, let us do our part regardless of what the other person does.
And
thus we can see how important godly love really is and HOW it conducts
itself. May we seek to
develop this attitude in all that we do.
In
our next lesson we will discuss the temporary nature of these spiritual
gifts.