Love

(Message by Pastor Philip Joseph on June 13, 2010. Happy reading!)

For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul” or “I am of Apollos” or “I am of Cephas”, or “I am of Christ .” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? (1 Cor. 1: 11, 12, 13)

Here was Paul eager to talk to the church at Corinth, while he hears some news about them. He is also in receipt of a letter from church with queries regarding eating of things sacrificed to idols, about marriage, about spiritual gifts… And Paul answers their queries through this letter to the Corinthians. But, before he addresses their queries, he expresses concern regarding one particular trait in the church – i.e. division.

The church in Corinth was blessed with a growing congregation- a powerful witness in such a geographically important place. This brought many great men of God to share the wonderful works and knowledge of our great God. But then the unthinkable happenend… the people became people followers; some said they were of Paul, some of Apollos, some of Peter… there were beginnings of a great turmoil by factions and groups of segregated believers; yes, they were divided.

Paul questions ‘Is Christ divided?’ and ARGUES that there is really ONE true foundation and that is Jesus Christ! “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 3:11).

We must in our times, too, be concerned of this trait of division in the church. We respect ministers – great men of God; we hear them speak but we will FOLLOW only Jesus Christ. Yes, ‘who then is Paul or who is Apollos but ministers through whom you believed… ‘(1 Cor. 3:5). Finally, who matters for our faith is the Rock of all ages! It does not matter who spoke to us about Him; we put our trust in Him. It does not matter who baptized us…we were baptized in His name. Yes, only Jesus Christ.

Paul, or Apollos or for that matter Peter had no inkling of thought to create divisions…in fact they shared a great relationship with one another and with Jesus Christ. Yet, it was the ‘carnal’ natured members of the church who started divisions in their name. Paul was clear of what he considered himself and wanted others to consider him the same. He says, Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. (1 Cor. 4:1)

Are you reeling under a spate of divisions within the church? Are you relying on your mind to decide on some faction to follow yourself? Beware, the carnal mind! Strive for UNITY in Christ Jesus…

Colossians 3:14 says, “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection {unity}” What about in marriage? If we show true love, it is bound to bond us in unity… It is the same in church; walk in love and we will see how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.

All right! Today this is the theme of what I wish to speak to you – LOVE. Turn with me to the chapter on love - 1 Corinthians 13. Paul, the learned, sandwiches this love chapter between chapter 12 and chapter 14 that talks of spiritual gifts and usage of spiritual gifts. In between, he talks of the FRUIT of TRUE LOVE. What I understand is this: that whatever may be your spiritual gifting, it will not WORK unless founded in LOVE.

That is why, Paul starts chapter 13 with these words: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging 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, but have not love, I am NOTHING” (v1, 2).

If we look at the world, the word ‘love’ has different meanings and connotations… people define it according to their intellect, advantage and convenience, nothing more. But here in the Bible the true definition of LOVE is written… there are 7 things written of what LOVE IS and 8 things written of what LOVE IS NOT… By reading through we get a grasp of what love is and what Jesus has done for us in pouring out this love into our hearts, for us to work on and walk in love with our fellow brethren…

LOVE IS…

• Patient

V4 ‘Love suffers long and is kind’: A quality remarkably absent in the 21^st century…We want it and want it NOW. But God calls us to be different… As we put on the attitude of Paul in calling ourselves God’s servant… we are encouraged particularly to have this quality of patience (2 Tim. 2:24)

• Kind

Prov. 19:22 says, ‘what is desired in a man is kindness…’  Prov. 3:3 says, ‘Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck.’

LOVE IS NOT…

• Jealous

If you have love, the one of the proofs that you show is that you are not jealous of another’s gift, wealth or possessions. Many think that being envious is not so bad… after all it is no harm done. But James 3:16 warns us: For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

LOVE DOES NOT…

• Brag

 Love does not parade itself; Boast about oneself! Yes, it may be the truth about your ‘experiences’ and ‘encounters’; but love considers ‘Is it really called for to talk about it?’. Proverbs 27:2 says, “Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.”

LOVE IS NOT…

• Arrogant / Rude

Knowledge puffs up; but love edifies (1 Cor. 8:1). Arrogance in the church and arrogance of the anointed have been subject matters in recent weeks past. Paul was writing to Corinthians about eating of things sacrificed to idols; in those days, even the meat available in the market were first offered to idols… Paul offers this explanation that an idol is nothing for those with the knowledge of one God… but food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse (v8).

What do we do with other members? Constant try to put them down with criticism and discouragement?

LOVE DOES NOT…

• Seek its own

 Love is not selfish… If you are on the verge of taking the steps to holy matrimony, consider what you can GIVE into the relationship rather than what you can GET OUT OF the relationship. This is love to consider others’ interest even in the church… to promote others rather than your own interest.

LOVE IS NOT…

• Provoked

An irritable nature is not because of love! Even if people speak against us… there is love that keeps us from being provoked.

LOVE DOES NOT…

• Keep an account of wrongs

Do not keep a record of wrong doings…walking in true love is always having a clean slate when you meet up a person. Forgiveness is the key…the Lord taught us in the prayer ‘Forgive us, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us’

• Rejoice in unrighteousness

If there is unrighteousness / iniquity / sin, true love will not rejoice in it.

LOVE …

• Rejoices in the truth

Just because you like or dislike someone, does not mean you have to take sides in argument or dissensions. True love will always stand for truth and rejoice in it.

• Bears all things

1 Peter 4:8 says ‘Love covers a multitude of sins’… We too can learn to bear one another’s burden in love. Remember how Noah was uncovered one day, and two of his sons covered him while earlier the other son did not…

• Believes all things

The amplified Bible says that love believes the best of all things (about a person). This is how God saw us while we yet sinners… he saw our substance, our potential, our future and He came down for us… A sinner is turned into a saint because God chose to believe the best of all things about us…

• Hopes all things

He is our God of hope who fills us with hope in love. Romans 15:13 says, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”.

• Endures all things

True love never gives up on anybody! Hold on, persevere… because His love endures forever. By faith and endurance {patience}, we inherit God’s promises (Heb. 6:12).

LOVE DOES NOT…

• fail

Prophecy may fail, tongues may cease, but love does not fail but endures forever.

1 Corinthians 14:1 says, “Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts...”; You see true love is not automatically given to us. We have to pursue love…go after it. God is love and He has poured out His love into our hearts. We have a responsibility to do the works that we are called for…to fulfill each and every purpose of God and His will for our own lives. In unity and harmony is our strength… we do have a responsibility to pursue love and pursue peace with all men.

May God grant us to know the depths of His love for us… that we may know true love and pursue it. Amen.