Written by Sis. Zoe Stewart
“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 easilty provoked, thinketh no evil”
Love - /ləv/ - a four letter word that has been mentioned 361 times in the Kings James Version of the Holy Bible.
This term may be used as a verb or a noun. Being defined as a verb, it means to take great pleasure in something or someone. Being used as a noun, it can be defined as an intense feeling of deep affection. Why is the word “love” so important that it was utilized numerous times in the most important book in the world?
As Christians, we hear the saying “God is love” ever so often. We also have knowledge of the fact that Christ made us in the likeness of His own image, as it was stated in the book of Genesis 1:27 (“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them”). This biblical citation does not refer to God being in human form.
Inversely, it indicates that we, as humans, are in the image of Christ in our moral, spiritual and intellectual nature. Apostle Paul lectures us on how we should portray love, being Christ-like, in the first book of Corinthians and chapter thirteen. Let us do a break-down of this passage to acquire a great understanding of love.
(1-2) Love is superior to all spiritual gifts.
“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”
a) The word charity in this scripture is a synonym for “love”.
b) Paul reminds us that even the gift of tongues has no meaning once there is no love. Without love, the gift of tongues is nothing but empty noise.
(3) The most dramatic, selfless acts are profitless if there is no love.
“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”
a) As much as one may voluntarily give away their all without question, they have nothing to gain once they have no love inside of them.
(4-6) Love is long-lasting and is kind. Love is not proud, arrogant, envious, rude, happy with evil doings or any of such.
“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”
a) If God’s love is in us then we will love everyone, even the undeserving, no matter what. When we show God’s love, it will be portrayed in basic acts of kindness.
b) Love is not proud - you can work anonymously; not out of a sense of receiving praises.
c) Love is not arrogant - you shouldn’t get easily angered; be graceful.
d) Love is not envious - envy put God on the cross (Matthew 27:18 - For he knew that for envy they had delivered him)
e) Love is not rude - you should show kindness and good manners.
f) Love is not happy with evil doings - you shouldn’t color things against your relatives.
(7) Love has four sweet companions: powerful, believing, faithful, enduring.
“Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things”
a) All things cover everything! Paul could have said “some things”. However, equality is what God expects from us; being unbiased.
(8-10) Love is permanent. It NEVER fails!
“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.
(11-12) Permanence of love cont’d
“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”
a) We should gain spiritual maturity as we convert mentally during this journey of salvation.
b) Paul tells us about the perfect fellowship we will have with Christ one day, if we have love.
(13) Love abides throughout all generations.
“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity”
a) Love is the greatest as it will only grow even in eternity. After we are caught up to meet Him, faith and hope would have already fulfilled their purposes. Paul is trying to tell us that without love as the motive, everything else is meaningless.
Lead with love.
By: Sis. Zoe Stewart
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