All Scripture passages are taken from the New Living Translation
The love chapter is one of the most familiar passages in the New Testament. We’ve broken it down, analyzed it, and argued over the meaning of it. We’ve tried to live it and mourned over how far short we fall of its lofty ideals. What Proverbs 31 is for women, 1 Corinthians 13 is for all Christians.
Like any believer, I face situations that challenge my “love muscles.” And like any believer, I fall flat on my face trying to be all the things love is. Recently, I saw this passage in a new way.
If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
The traditional understanding of these verses refers to someone who works hard for God’s kingdom but doesn’t love those she’s ministering to. Her “super-Christian” behavior rings hollow and benefits her nothing. Perhaps when Paul wrote this chapter, he recalled Jesus’ words of warning:
“ On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name. ‘But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws. (Matthew 7:22-23)
These were people who did miraculous deeds but not out of a covenant relationship with the Lord of lords and King of kings.
However, the “lovelessness” portrayed here can refer to the redeemed child of God. Burdened by tragic misconceptions, he fears that without hard spiritual labor and great sacrifice, he cannot hope to gain and keep the fullness of the Father’s affection and approval. Assurance of God’s unconditional regard for him doesn’t connect with the heart. He doesn’t “have” love even though it surrounds him and lives in him. God is pleased with him because of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross so all the spiritual achievement and effort in the world will do him no good.
John 17:23 says that Jesus prayed that his disciples would, “experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.” The full meaning of that verse hit home one day and I stared at it in shock for at least a minute. What a revelation that the Father loves his blood-bought children with the same passion he has for Jesus–his perfect, sinless, beloved son in whom he is well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)
1 John 4:18 declares God’s perfect love that drives out fear of punishment for our sin—punishment that the Savior took on himself. In return, we are made the righteousness of God in Christ with the peace and security that accompanies it.
That righteousness is portrayed in the wonderful litany of the “character qualities” of love in verses 4-7. It is no coincidence they reflect the list of spiritual fruits found in Galatians 5:22-23.
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
It is the Holy Spirit of the living God abiding in us that produces these responses. Trying harder to be loving only defeats the purpose. When we focus on Jesus and allow the Spirit to take over, we find the strength to manifest the love that covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)
Sin does need to be confronted at times. Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness (or injustice) but rejoices in the truth. (vs 6) A friend once stated, “Truth without love is brutality.” When we are called to deal with a brother or sister who is caught in ungodliness, we do so in gentleness and humility. Our goal is to see the erring one come to the knowledge of the truth and resulting repentance. We rejoice when this happens because our hearts long for truth and righteousness.
The Apostle Paul finishes by speaking of how, in this fallen world, we discern only fragments of the big picture God alone sees.
“Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture.” (vs. 9)
Until heaven, our sense of God speaking to us and through us will always be incomplete and imperfect. No matter how spiritual we are or how long we’ve been a believer–no matter how anointed or dynamic a ministry we have, we are all vulnerable to “getting it wrong” sometimes.
But that time of perfection is coming. (vs. 10) When it does, prophecy and tongues will fall useless. We will see with unsurpassed clarity, knowing fully just as God has always known us. (vs. 8, 12) When Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith appears, we shall be like him and we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)
Paul ties it all together by saying that all else may change or pass away. Yet faith, hope, and love will last forever because the one whose very essence is love, is our eternal, uncreated God. We dwell in him by faith; we in him and the Father in us. (John 17:21)
Let us receive his love so we might freely give it.
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