1 Corinthians 13
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
Love Within Reach
The Bible has set those essential things at a level where even the lowest member of the church can reach them. The Gospel is set at a level where even children can come to it. It is placed so low that its humility keeps many proud men from stooping to receive it. Faith, hope, grace, and many more precious truths are so plainly spoken of, but today, love or charity is the truth we want to pull from the bottom shelf of understanding and admire.
It is important to point out that this comes from the Greek word agapē. The Greek language had many different words for love, but this particular one is the most elevated sense of the word—it is unconditional love, God’s love.
Love: The Foundation of the Law
The Bible is extremely clear that love is the key thing in life. It was the first commandment: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy mind, and with all thy soul.” The second commandment is, “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” Then Jesus reveals that it is on this basis that all the Law is built and fulfilled.
The Law was built on the foundation of love—love for God first: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Then love for our fellow man: “Thou shalt not covet,” “Thou shalt not bear false witness,” “Thou shalt not murder,” etc. The Ten Commandments are structured this way—the first four rooted in loving God, and the next six instructing us on loving others.
Then we have the example that Jesus set for us. It was for love that He fulfilled the Law. It was for love that He submitted to His Father. It was for love that He laid down His life for us. At the cross of Calvary, we see the perfect representation of perfect love. The vertical beam illustrates love for God, and the horizontal beam illustrates love for mankind. By love, Jesus fulfilled His Father’s will, paid for our sins, and declared, “It is finished.” This was the climax of His life and the work of perfect love for God and man.
There are many other examples we could share, but our chapter today perhaps presents the weightiest truth concerning love—what it is, what it does, its absolute necessity, and its elevated position above all other graces.
Love is an Absolute Necessity
First of all, our chapter teaches us that love isn’t just a wonderful thing—it is an absolute necessity. Without it, all our other graces and gifts are meaningless. Read carefully the first three verses of this chapter and be warned of what a life lived without love equals: “Nothing.”
That shocked me and scared me. Potentially, I could give away all my substance, preach, teach, go to the mission field, and even lay down my very life for the Gospel—all in vain—simply because I did it for the wrong reasons.
Let us be reminded that God looks on the inward man. He cares more about why we are doing something than what we are doing. If you are rooted in love, you will be fruitful in love. If the intention is right, the fruit will be pleasing to God, and by love, you will fulfill His will His way.
The Attributes of Love
In verses four through seven, we see the attributes of love. These serve as a kind of checklist for self-examination:
Love has the strength to suffer under persecution, providence, circumstances, and even abuse for a long period of time – “Charity suffereth long.”
Love does not despise others for what they have – “Charity envieth not.”
Love treats others the way it would want to be treated – “Charity is kind.”
Love operates by the J.O.Y. precept (Jesus, Others, Yourself) – “Charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.”
Love is sensitive to the most delicate consciences – “Doth not behave itself unseemly.”
Love isn’t looking for opportunities to advance itself – “Seeketh not her own.”
Love has a long fuse – “Is not easily provoked.”
Love assumes the best about people and does not entertain evil thoughts – “Thinketh no evil.”
Love takes no pleasure in sin – “Rejoiceth not in iniquity.”
Love delights in the truth – “Rejoiceth in the truth.”
Coming to verse seven, we see the absolute strength of this key grace:
Love bears all things.
Love believes all things.
Love hopes all things.
Love endures all things.
Love Never Fails
Verse eight shares with us a universal truth—one we should keep in our hearts at all times: “Charity never faileth.”
The love of God, shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, never fails. The love of God never fails. Love has been to the grave, wrestled with death, and emerged victorious. Love has been assaulted by the most horrendous acts of hatred and has prevailed. Love has won the hardest criminals, made the vilest sinners clean, and there has yet to be a foe that could conquer it.
Oh, that I might operate by His love! Lord, help me love You like You love me! Lord, help me love others like You love me! Oh, for our lives to be a wellspring of the love of God! If our lives were rooted in His love, it would quicken our evangelism, embolden us to go, encourage us to give, and empower us to operate in every area of life with unction and progress.
Love is Eternal
Without a doubt, love is the key thing. God is love. Perhaps that is why all other things will cease, but love will never end. Faith will end. Hope will end. Gifts will end. Everything we currently know will end—but love is eternal.
It is as if love emanates from the very being of God, and as long as there is a God, there will be love. It is by this principle grace that we should live.
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
O love of God,
how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
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