likely a chiastic... 1 and 3 establish the importance of 2...
v1-3 - the necessity of love
v4-7 - the character of love
v8-13 - the supremacy of love
a. how you do things is more important than what you do
'if i :'
- speak with tongues of angels/men
- have the gift of prophecy, know all mysteries and all knowledge
- give all my possessions to feed the poor, surrender my body to boast / be burned
but do not love...none of it is worth anything
principle : how is as important as what
example : doing household chores with a bad attitude
example : 'providing for the family' but not treating them with love
b. "that's not my love language is not an excuse"
(caveat : love languages are supposed to be about what other people will
appreciate, not how you communicate)
people excuse their lack of love by saying that they express love in
'different ways'
- "i'm not nice, but i mow the lawn"
- "i may be backbiting, but i'm always there for her"
we tend to hide our sin behind 'philanthropy' or other such deeds...
but consider paul's examples;
"if i give all my possessions but do not have love..."
"if i surrender my body to be burned / boast ..."
there is no substitute for love.
note : these aren't necessarily components of love; they may be 'workings' of love, things love
looks like / does.
a. concerning the listed elements...
1. 7 positive, 7 negative
a. positives
patient
kind
(cont) rejoices with the truth
bears all things
believes all things
hopes all things
endures all things
b. negatives
is not jealous
does not brag
is not arrogant
does not seek it's own
is not provoked
does not take into account a wrong suffered
does not rejoice in unrighteousness
2. these aren't necessarily components of love, they could be actions showing love
b. love is described not in terms of feeling but of doing and being
not a pure feeling;
not doing things 'when you want' or 'when you feel like it'
not the selfish love that we hold to (loving when it makes us feel special or grand)
c. the dominant theme of these traits is the utter lack of self-interest
1. the focus is completely other-centered
2. we miss just how hard and how complete this is
3. this is the key to love, to christian relationships, and to christian ethics
d. the cross should stand as the supreme example of love for us
i don't think we can talk about love without talking about the cross
christ shows complete love by taking all of our sin against him upon himself;
complete other-centeredness (though, as he is god, this is also complete
self-centeredness)
rom 5:8 - but god demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were
yet sinners, christ died for us
a. love is more valuable than knowledge or gifts that bring knowledge (v8-12)
primarily, paul shows the greatness of love by showing love as eternal
complete knowledge will elude us on earth; it will come in heaven.
love will continue however.
note : i don't think paul is disparaging knowledge so much as he
is praising love
application : want to be a great christian? pursue love
more important that knowing theologies, church history, greek and hebrew,
or any other impressive thing is being loving.
for some reason, we can't seem to keep that in mind.
b. love is the supreme virtue
faith, hope, love - love is supreme
c. want the greatest gifts? desire to be the best? be the most loving
matt 20:25-28
but jesus called them to himself, and said, you know that the rulers of the
gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.
it is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your
servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the son
of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.
john 13:12-14
and so when he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, and reclined at the
table again, he said to them, "do you know what i have done to you? you call me teacher
and lord; and you are right, for so i am. if i then, the lord and the teacher, washed
your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
also, phil 2:3-11