The Way of Love

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: 1 Corinthians 13

 

 

There is a saying in marketing products and services that sex sells. Sadly, the results of advertising using sex indicate the saying has some truth to it. The preponderance of sex in advertising also contributes to the idea in modern culture that love, and sex is synonymous. 1 Corinthians 13 defines biblical love expanding the definition of love from a feeling to an action. The world needs the Church to demonstrate the way of love concept of biblical love to a culture dominated by hate, to show the world we are disciples of Christ and have a greater way to live (John 13:34-35).

 

Speaking in the tongues of men and even angels is just a lot of noise if it is done without love (1 Corinthians 13:1). One with prophetic powers to understand all mysteries, having all knowledge, having mountain moving faith without love is nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2). Even one giving away all they have, including their body without love gains nothing (1 Corinthians 13:3).

 

Love is patient and kind without envy or boasting in itself or full of arrogance (1 Corinthians 13:4). Love is not rude or insistent on getting its own way and not irritable or resentful (1 Corinthians 13:5). Love does not rejoice in wrongdoing but instead rejoices in the truth (1 Corinthians 13:6). Love bears, hopes, and endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:7).

 

Unlike prophecies, tongues, and knowledge which cease and pass away, love never ends (1 Corinthians 13:8). As people, we only know in part and prophecy in part, but when the perfect one comes, Jesus Christ, the partial will pass away (1 Corinthians 13:9-10). Paul tells the Corinthians that when he was a child, he spoke, thought, and reasoned as a child but when he grew up, he put away childish things (1 Corinthians 13:11). In this life we see and know things dimly and in part, but when we see the Lord face-to-face, we will see things clearly and have full knowledge (1 Corinthians 13:12). Of the three things, faith, hope, and love, the greatest is love (1 Corinthians 13:13).

 

In 1 Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul taught about spiritual gifts and the need for the Church to function in harmony like the human body. However, 1 Corinthians 12:31 ends the chapter with encouragement to desire the higher gifts with Paul promising to show the Corinthians a more excellent way, the way of love. This way of love is not a replacement for the use of the gifts of the Spirit in the operation of the Church but the attitude of how to administer the gifts in the Church. One speaking in tongues without love is just making a lot of noise (1 Corinthians 13:1). One having the gift of prophecy, discernment of mysteries with great knowledge of the Word of God, or one with mountain-moving faith is nothing without love. Even one giving away all that they own and sacrificing their body gains nothing if he or she does it without love (1 Corinthians 13:2-3). The way of love is also crucial to maintaining unity in the Church. Patience, humility, selflessness, rejoicing in truth instead of wrongdoing, and bearing one another’s burdens promotes unity (1 Corinthians 13:4-7; Galatians 6:2). The gifts like prophecy and tongues will pass away as will knowledge (1 Corinthians 13:8) but love never ends for Jesus is the perfect example of the way of love (1 John 3:16). The divisions and sexual immorality in the Corinthian Church find resolution in the way of the sacrificial love of Christ.

 

The idea of love in modern society has become perverted and relegated to something erotic, thus limiting how people define love. Lost in this perverted definition of love is the idea of agape love, the love that 1 Corinthians 13 defines. Gone also is the idea of sacrificial love with love viewed as a consumer transaction with each person looking for what they can get out of loving another person. Gone too is the idea of leadership about serving one another (Matthew 23:11-12). Instead, leaders lead with arrogance and rudeness viewing themselves as above those they lead (Matthew 23:1-10). God’s love levels the playing field making eternal life available to all who believe in Jesus as his or her Savior (John 3:16). If you are reading this and have not prayed for forgiveness of your sins and to make Jesus your savior, I invite you to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

When one ministers to others, they must adopt the way of love, ministering and using their gifts with the love of Christ. May God challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.