The Greatest of These (1 Corinthians 13)

Good morning, everyone. Today we will dive into a topic that, surprisingly, doesn't get as much airtime as it should in our conversations, both inside and outside the church. We're talking about love, but not just any love. We're exploring the profound, transformative love described in 1 Corinthians 13.

Now, when we hear the word 'love,' what springs to mind? Maybe it's the affection we feel for our family, the fondness for our friends, or even the romantic love that's been the subject of countless songs and stories. But the love we're discussing today? It's a different breed. It's a love so deep and so essential that the Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, places it above all spiritual gifts.

So, why don't we talk about this more often? Is it because we think we've got it all figured out? Or is it perhaps because talking about this kind of love makes us uncomfortable? This love challenges us, stretches us, and calls us to a higher standard.

In today's culture, love is often portrayed as a feeling, something that comes and goes, something that's here today and gone tomorrow. But the love Paul speaks about in 1 Corinthians 13 is not fleeting. It's not a temporary emotion. It's robust, enduring, and sacrificial.

As we walk through 1 Corinthians 13 today, we'll see the stark contrast between a life lived with and without this love. We'll define what love truly is – not just a mere feeling, but an action, a commitment, a way of being. And most importantly, we'll understand why, amidst all spiritual gifts, love remains the greatest.

Friends, as we unpack these truths, my hope is that we'll not only gain a deeper understanding of what love is but also be moved to embody this love in our daily lives. A love that transforms, a love that binds, a love that endures. A love that reflects the very heart of Christ to the world around us.

The Absence of Love (1-3)

As we embark on this journey through 1 Corinthians 13, it's crucial to start where Paul starts: with the stark reality of the absence of love. In verses 1-3, Paul doesn't immediately tell us what love is; instead, he shows us what it is not, and what happens when it's missing from our lives, especially as believers.

The Emptiness of Gifts Without Love

Paul begins with a profound statement: "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal." Imagine that! Speaking with eloquence, with the tongues of angels, yet without love, it's just noise. It's empty. This is a powerful metaphor. In our lives, no matter how eloquently we speak, how beautifully we articulate our faith, without love, it's just sound without substance.

Then Paul moves to the gift of prophecy, understanding mysteries, possessing all knowledge, and even having faith that can move mountains. These are extraordinary gifts, aren't they? Yet, Paul says, without love, they amount to nothing. It’s like having a beautiful car with no engine. It looks impressive, but it's not going anywhere.

The Illustration of Sacrifice Without Love

Paul doesn't stop there. He talks about giving away all we possess and even surrendering our bodies to hardship. These acts seem like the ultimate sacrifices, the pinnacle of religious commitment. But here's the kicker: even these extreme acts, if not motivated by love, gain us nothing. It's a challenging thought, isn't it? That one can be outwardly so sacrificial, yet inwardly so empty.Why would anyone engage in such extreme acts of selflessness without love?

Possible Motivations for Sacrifice Without Love

Seeking Approval or Recognition: One possible motivation is the desire for approval, recognition, or even admiration from others. In this scenario, the sacrifice is more about the individual and how they are perceived by others, rather than a genuine act of love.

Fulfilling a Sense of Duty or Obligation: Some might sacrifice out of a sense of duty or obligation, rather than from a place of love. This could be due to cultural, societal, or religious expectations, where the act of sacrifice is seen as a requirement or a way to fulfill certain moral or ethical standards.

Pursuit of Personal Fulfillment or Redemption: Others might engage in self-sacrifice as a means of finding personal fulfillment or seeking redemption for past mistakes. Here, the focus is inward, seeking to satisfy a personal need or alleviate personal guilt.

Ideological Commitment: Sacrifice could also stem from a strong commitment to an ideology or cause. While this might mirror aspects of love, it can sometimes be driven more by zeal for the cause than by genuine love for individuals impacted by the sacrifice.

In contrast to these motivations, a sacrifice driven by love, as described in 1 Corinthians 13, is fundamentally different.

The Core Message

As we consider the absence of love described in the first point of the sermon, this exploration of sacrifice without love challenges us to examine our motivations. Are our sacrifices – big or small – rooted in genuine love? Or are they driven by other factors? Understanding this distinction helps us align our actions with the kind of love Paul describes, the love that truly reflects the heart of Christ.

What Paul is driving at here is profound yet simple. Love is not just an addition to these gifts; it is the very essence, the soul that gives these gifts meaning and value. Without love, spiritual gifts, no matter how impressive, are like a ship without a sail – they may have the potential to move, but they're going nowhere.

As we reflect on these verses, let's ask ourselves: are our actions, our words, our sacrifices rooted in love? Or are we just a clanging cymbal, making noise but lacking the melody of love? This is a challenging thought, but it's essential as we seek to understand and embody the love that Paul describes in this chapter.

Defining Love (4-8)

Having understood what happens in the absence of love, we now turn to a passage that is perhaps one of the most beautiful and detailed descriptions of love in all of Scripture – 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Here, Paul doesn’t just tell us what love is; he paints a picture, giving us a vivid portrait of love in action.

Love's Attributes: A Detailed Breakdown

1. is Patient, Love is Kind: Patience is not just waiting; it's how we wait. Love waits with grace, without frustration or anger. And kindness? It's not just doing nice things. It's an attitude, a willingness to wait for others to grow spiritually and do what’s right without bringing them down or discouraging them. Jesus said, “If a brother comes to you and repents, you should forgive him 70 times 7 times.” Love forgives.
2. Does Not Envy, It Does Not Boast, It Is Not Proud: Envy, boasting, and pride are about elevating ourselves, often at the expense of others. Love, however, finds joy not in self-exaltation but in lifting others up. Often, we don’t realize that we have taken on a boasting or proud attitude. Perhaps we just have a strong opinion or try to get our own way. But the actions associated with self-glory are devoid of love.
3. Does Not Dishonor Others, It Is Not Self-Seeking, It Is Not Easily Angered, It Keeps No Record of Wrongs: Love respects and honors others. It's not about 'me' but 'we'. Love doesn’t keep a tally of wrongs. It forgives, it lets go. We might think we know what’s best, or that we can fix other people by mistreating them. But all that really means is we want to punish others. When we would rather judge people for their mistakes than honor them for what they got right, we do not have love in our hearts.
4. Does Not Delight in Evil but Rejoices with the Truth: Love finds no pleasure in the misfortune of others. It rejoices in what is right, true, and just. How easy is it to relish the downfall of our enemies or of those who have fought so hard against us? We might get excited because the ends justify the means. But really we should want people to change and be what they ought to be without experiencing any suffering at all. We should love them enough to want them to learn without pain because that’s what we would want. If a brother or sister changes without suffering for their wrong, we should rejoice in the fact that they have changed. Don’t be like the prodigal son’s brother, who was angry about his brother’s repentance and forgiveness.
5. Always Protects, Always Trusts, Always Hopes, Always Perseveres: Love is a fortress in times of trouble. It believes the best in others, holds onto hope, and endures through every circumstance. Love pushes us to provide what is needed when people around us are in trouble. It also keeps us on the path of righteousness when people are evil against us. Being a part of the body of Christ is occasionally very painful.

Love Never Fails

And finally, the culmination: "Love never fails." While other gifts have their place and time, love is eternal. It's the thread that weaves through every spiritual gift, every action, every word. Love is the very nature of God Himself, displayed perfectly in Jesus Christ.

Reflecting on Love in Our Lives

As we dissect these attributes of love, let's ask ourselves: How does this love manifest in my life? Am I patient? Am I kind? Do I seek the good of others above my own? This is not just a checklist; it’s a call to a way of life. When I look at my work, I often wonder what drives me. It’s easy for me to get focused on the tasks and forget to consider the people connected to those tasks.

In understanding love, we're called to a higher standard. This love is not weak; it's strong. It's not passive; it's active. It's the kind of love that transforms lives, builds communities, and reflects the heart of God. As we ponder these truths, let's allow God’s definition of love to sink deep into our hearts and minds, shaping us to be more like Christ.

Love Remains (8-13)

1 Corinthians 13:8–13 (ESV) — 8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

In verses 8-13, Paul contrasts the temporary nature of spiritual gifts with the enduring nature of love. Why do we care about all of that? These spiritual gifts were prominent in the first century church, but we don’t see them today because the apostles imparted them with the laying on of hands. The apostles died and those gifts with them. But why does Paul talk about these gifts in comparison to love? This is a pivotal moment in understanding the supremacy of love in the life of a believer. It is the gift that God has provided above all else.

The Transitory Nature of Spiritual Gifts

Paul begins by acknowledging that spiritual gifts, as vital as they are, have a shelf life. "Prophecies, they will cease; tongues, they will be stilled; knowledge, it will pass away." These gifts, though significant, are not the goal. They serve a purpose now, but they aren't the purpose. They are like scaffolding, necessary for building but removed once the structure is complete.

The Comparison with Childhood and Maturity

Paul uses a compelling analogy of childhood and maturity: "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me." In the same way, the first century Christians’ understanding and use of spiritual gifts were incomplete, like a child's understanding of the world. But a time is coming, Paul says, when the partial understanding will be replaced with completeness, a maturity of faith and knowledge to perfection.

The Mirror and Seeing Face to Face

The metaphor of seeing "in a mirror, dimly" but then "face to face" is powerful. In Paul's time, mirrors were not like ours today. They gave a blurred, imperfect reflection. That’s their first century understanding. But one day, they will see everything with clarity, like beholding themselves face to face.

Love: The Greatest of All

Paul culminates this section with a profound statement: "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." Why is love the greatest? Because love is the essence of God's character. Love is the force that undergirds all of existence. Faith will one day become sight, hope will be fulfilled, but love? Love goes on forever. God has provided us with a greater understanding of love that will extend into the coming generations and into eternity.

Application to Our Lives

As we reflect on this truth, let's ask ourselves: How are we investing in love? Are we focusing only on the temporary, or are we nurturing the eternal quality of love in our lives? Love is not just for now; it’s for always. It’s the legacy that lasts, the thread that runs through every aspect of our Christian life and into eternity.

As we ponder these truths, let us be encouraged and challenged. Encouraged, because the love we cultivate now carries eternal significance. Challenged, because this calls us to a higher standard of living, a life where love is our primary pursuit. This is the kind of love that never ends, the love that outlasts all gifts, the love that truly remains.

Living Out Love in the Body of Christ

This lesson has been full of challenging questions, but let’s be sure to address them properly. This passage isn't just ancient text; it's a mirror reflecting the state of our hearts and our actions.

1. We Aware of the Absence of Love in Our Work?

First, we must consider our daily actions, our interactions with family, friends, and even strangers. Are these interactions marked by the love described in 1 Corinthians 13, or are they merely transactions, devoid of the warmth and sincerity of genuine love? Do we serve our spouses and children with patience, respect, honor, and trust?

What about in our service within the church and our community, are we motivated by a deep love for others, or are we driven by a sense of duty, a desire for recognition, or even habit?

Do We Harbor a Distorted Version of Love?

Reflect on your personal definition of love. Does it align with the patient, kind, selfless love Paul describes, or have we settled for a lesser, more convenient version of love? When we think about the gift that God has given us, are we using that gift with patience towards those who are trying to outdo us or who seem to be working against us? Or are we using that gift with envy, boasting, or pride?

How often do we excuse impatience, envy, or pride under the guise of love? Are we willing to confront these discrepancies in our understanding and practice of love?

The Call to Cultivate True Love

Recognizing where our version of love falls short is the first step. The next, and more challenging step, is to commit to cultivating true love in our lives. Paul tells us that love never ends. That’s not talking about a feeling. It’s talking about the love that one person is supposed to have towards another, the love God has for you and me. It gives us warm feelings, but it’s really about thoughtfulness and consideration.

This isn’t a one-time decision but a daily, intentional choice to let love guide our thoughts, words, and actions.

Building Up the Body of Christ

Our commitment to love is not just for our personal growth; it's foundational for building up the body of Christ. When we love as Paul describes, we encourage and strengthen one another. We also create an environment where spiritual gifts can be used effectively and for their intended purpose – to glorify God and edify the church. But, ultimately, this helps us accomplish our mission to become a powerful witness to the world of what it means to be followers of Christ. Jesus said, “They will know you by your love.”

Making Necessary Changes

Making changes isn’t easy. It requires humility, willingness to learn, and, above all, reliance on the Holy Spirit. As we seek to align our understanding and practice of love with the biblical standard, let us pray for divine guidance and strength, hold each other accountable in love, and celebrate the steps we take towards becoming more loving individuals and a more loving church community.

Conclusion: A Call to Love

In closing, let’s remember that love is the greatest of all. It's the most excellent way. As we go forth from here, let’s commit to being people of love – love that is patient, kind, and selfless. Love that reflects the heart of Jesus. Love that builds up, heals, and unites.

Let us not just be hearers of the Word, but doers. Let our love be the defining characteristic of our lives, our church, and our witness to the world. For in doing so, we fulfill the greatest commandments: to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

May the Lord help us, guide us, and transform us as we seek to live out this call to love.