The Importance of Love

"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.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor,

and though I give my body to be burned,

but have not love,

it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind;

love does not envy;

love does not parade itself, 

is not puffed up;

does not behave rudely;

does not seek its own,

is not provoked, 

thinks no evil;

does not rejoice in iniquity,

but rejoices in the truth;

bears all things,  

believes all things,

hopes all things,  

endures all things.

Love never fails.

But whether there are prophecies,

they will fail;

whether there are tongues,

they will cease;

whether there is knowledge,

it will vanish away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

But when that which is perfect has come,

then that which is in part will be done away.

When I was a child,

I spoke 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 in a mirror,

dimly, but then face to face.

Now I now in part,

but then I shall know just as I also am known.

And know abide faith, hope, love, 

these three;

but the greatest of these is love.

~ 1 Corinthians 13 ~

This chapter never ceases to amaze me because it shows me that love is very important, and is much different then how the world today thinks about love.   I would like to go through this chapter and break it down so that you can better understand just how vital true love is, and how God sees it.

          The first couple of verses are fairly easy to understand because they are saying that even if you can speak in tongues, prophecy, are wise, have faith, give away everything you own, and sacrifice; but you do not love as you are supposed to love, then those things would be for nothing.  Love is so much more than we think it is, and is far more important.  Of course, being a Christian involves these things too, but without love the rest would be all for nought.

             Well first I want to say that the Hebrew word used throughout this chapter for love is agape, not phileo. 

 "Phileo defines a love among friends that is conditional.   Agape, however, is the love that God sheds abroad in the heart of His children.  It is the same love that Jesus gives freely to us.  It is unconditional.  It is not based on performance or whether or not it is returned.  It is a love that gives even when it is rejected." -John Bevere

              "Love suffers long and is kind;". What does it mean to suffer long? That is one verse that has alway puzzled me because it sounded physically painful but knew there had to be more to the meaning.  I found out that is not what it always means!  To understand it better let us look at the meaning of the word makrothymeō, which is the Hebrew word for suffering long.  It means to not lose heart;  to persevere patiently and bravely in enduring misfortunes and troubles; to be patient in bearing the offenses and injuries of others; to be slow in avenging;  to be slow to anger; and finally, slow to punish.  So, no matter what people say or do to you, do not think of ways to get back at them, rather think of ways to show God's love to them.    

     "Love does not envy".  Most people would say that to envy means being jealous of something that someone else has.  Now that is true, but there is actually more here to envy then one would normally think.  Let's see how the Hebrew word zeloo describes envy.  To be heated or to boil with anger or hatred and to exert oneself in the pursuit of another.  It is not just being jealous, but also getting angry at the other person for having something we want or pursuing what we cannot have.   

     "Love does not parade itself, is not puffed up".   We are not to boast about ourselves nor be prideful about oneself.   In other words, we should not go around being like, "Look at me. I did all this stuff and I am so amazing!"  Rather we need to remember that love is humble and not prideful. We should not think of ourselves as being better than others.  So when we say to ourselves that we are better than so and so, watch out because that is a heart of pride, and pride leads to destruction.  "When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom." (Proverbs 11:2)  "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." (Proverbs 16:18) "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (James 4:6)

    "...does not behave rudely, does not seek it's own."  The first is basically saying that we should not act unbecomingly or unseemly.  Also we should not strive to control our lives, but rather we should let God write our life story for us.  We need to have the attitude of a servant, and be selfless.  

     "...is not provoked, thinks no evil."  I know this is a tough one to follow, but with God's strength we can do it.  We should have self-control and learn to turn the other cheek when people are trying to make us angry or annoying us.    It also says that we should not think evil thoughts, which I think is best summed up in a Bible verse.  

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true,

whatever things are noble,

whatever things are just,

whatever things are pure,

whatever things are lovely,

whatever things are of good report,

if there is any virtue and if there is any praiseworthy-

meditate on these things"

Philippians 4:8

     "... does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth."  "Adikia" is the Hebrew word for iniquity, which means, unrighteousness of heart and life; or a deed violating law and justice.  We are to rejoice in the truth at all times, and not deceive. We should not thrive in other people's mistakes and sins, but rather feel sorrow for them and pray that the truth would be revealed to them.  Love does not use other people's mistakes for their own advantage; instead, love helps them and cares for them.  
 
     "... bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."  When hardships and trials come are way, we are to know God does not give us more then we can handle.  Do we really know what it means to bear all things?  We often think that bearing a burden is the right Christian thing to do, and it is.  But truth be told, it is probably one of the most difficult things to do, because it requires us to put aside our emotions and feelings; to care for someone else.  Love is being there for them when they are going through trials and staying by their side no matter what.  Bearing all things means staying with them and encouraging them even if you are frustrated with them.  It is doing what is right, even when we do not feel like it, because you love them and want to honor God.  The same concept applies with the rest of this verse as well.

       "Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away."  Love will always win over evil and hate.  This means that real love has no limits and no end; it is forever-now and for eternity.  Thus, we do not have to base our self image on faulty things or what people say and think, because we can place that focus on our unfailing God who will always love and accept us when we are His Child.  Because God loves us so much, He will always hold us and enfold us-even when we hit the end of our rope or see no hope,  He will bear us and cover our hurts and fears. We can take hold of his grace and really believe and trust that God loves us.  We no longer need to fear rejection or hopelessness because Christ's work of reconciliation, His true love for us.  We are, as individuals, accepted and deeply loved and this love will never leave or forsake us.  Real love will never give up or give in; it's staying power is unmatched. This is the love we need when we have lost our way and this is the love we can and must give to others  who see no hope, because God does not give up on us.

        "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."  ~John 15:12-13~