Why should Christians love their enemies? What does love for an enemy mean? Do we have to like them too? Let’s examine what Jesus says in Luke 6:27-38.
How Love Enemies
Luke 6:27-28 “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” We may not LIKE them, but we must LOVE our enemies. How? Doing good, blessing and praying for them.
“Never pay back evil for evil to anyone… Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. ‘But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:17, 19-21)
We are not to take personal vengeance, but must leave that to God’s judgment. He may not think the person did wrong, but that WE were wrong, so it’s always best to leave it to His judgment. The opposite of vengeance is, giving food and drink to a needy enemy.
In the Hebrew Scriptures we read, “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey wandering away, you shall surely return it to him.” (Exodus 23:4) “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink” (Proverbs 25:21).
How do we pray for those who mistreat us? On the cross, Jesus prayed for His murderers. “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) Do we pray for drivers on the road, illegal immigrants, scam callers, difficult family members and corrupt politicians?
Luke 6:29-30 “Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.”
How literal is this? “When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, ‘Is that the way You answer the high priest?’ Jesus answered him, ‘If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?’” (John 18:22-23)
“Then Paul said to him, ‘God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?’” (Acts 23:3) Jesus emphasized suffering over vengeance, because a vengeful spirit only destroys us.
By saying, “Give to everyone who asks of you,” Jesus emphasizes giving over stinginess. Notice Jesus said, give to everyONE; He did not say, give everyTHING. Giving everyTHING will often only perpetuate the curse of dependency, and the most important giving may be encouragement to stand on one’s own feet.
Luke 6:31-32 “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.” Another way of saying this golden rule is “you would like men to love you, therefore love them whether they love you or not.” [W. Robertson Nicoll. The Expositor's Greek Testament. D. D. Mead and Co. 1897.]
Luke 6:33 “If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.” Macedonian Bishop Theophylact asked, “If you only love them that love you, you are only like the sinners and heathen; but if you love those who do evil to you, you are like to God; which therefore will you choose, to be like sinners or like God?” [Joseph Benson. Benson's Commentary - The New Testament. New-York: T. Mason & G. Lane. 1839.]
Why Love Enemies
Luke 6:34-35 “If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.”
Ancient Israel was required to lend to nationals without interest. They could, however, ask for interest from foreigners. Here Jesus goes beyond lending with interest or usury, to lending without even expecting the principle to be returned. How? Because we lend mercifully, fully prepared that circumstances may prevent a return.
Luke 6:36-37 “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.”
When tempted to lack mercy on the road, judge others for their sins, condemn others for corruption, and have a long list of things that we deem to be unpardonable, let us remember that, how we mete out mercy, judgment, condemnation and pardon is how we’ll be judged by God.
Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”
In the parable of the debtors (Matthew 18:23-35) we read, “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.” Even the familiar Lord’s Prayer says, “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
Why should Christians love their enemies? Because God loved us when we were still enemies. So what does love for an enemy mean? It may not mean liking them in their sins, but it does mean doing good for them, because God does good by providing for us every day.
Luke 6:27-38; Romans 12:17, 19-21; Exodus 23:4; Proverbs 25:21; Luke 23:34; John 18:22-23; Acts 23:3; Matthew 18:23-35
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
Sermon on the Plain
Have you noticed that Jesus often says the exact opposite of popular ideas? Christianity is for thinking people. Jesus did not establish a Church where people just check their brains at the entry door and blindly follow men. We worship God also with our minds. Jesus challenges us to think.
Perhaps after He gave the Sermon on the Mount, after praying all night on the Mount of Olives, Jesus then came down to give the Sermon on the Plain. It contains some similar puzzles for us to contemplate. Let’s look at the first part of it in Luke 6:17-26.
A Level Place
Luke 6:17-19 “Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place; and there was a large crowd of His disciples, and a great throng of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were being cured. And all the people were trying to touch Him, for power was coming from Him and healing them all.”
This seems to be a different time to the Sermon on the Mount. It may be a similar sermon given the next morning. Just as modern day preachers may give similar sermons in two or more places, the lessons are familiar, but now Jesus is standing on a level place.
This Sermon on the Plain included a multitude that was very mixed, disciples, people, Jews and perhaps even Gentiles from the coastal cities. They had come to receive healing from Jesus. And Jesus did so indiscriminately with an abundant display of His miraculous power.
Blessed
Luke 6:20-21 “And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.”
Contrasted with the Sermon on the Mount which says “blessed are the poor in spirit,” this Sermon on the Plain says, “blessed are the [destitute].” In Greek society, the rich were “the blessed.” As usual, Jesus says the opposite. The poor realize their lack, and are ready to hear God.
“Kingdom of God” is really an incomplete translation in modern English, especially among nations where many may not relate to a monarchy. It is better rendered “reign of God.” It is consistently used to describe the rule of Christ in the hearts of the faithful, who obey His reign now.
Blessed are you who hunger now uses fewer words than in the Sermon on the Mount, “hunger and thirst after righteousness.” Perhaps fewer words also say more. Like riches tend to dull the desire for higher things of God, so does a full stomach dull the hunger of the soul.
Blessed are you who weep. Crying is part of life and certainly includes the Christian experience. We mourn for our own sins and the sins of the world. A result of sin is crying tears. Here is the only place in the entire New Testament where laughter refers to joy.
Luke 6:22-23 “Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.”
The first Christians were excommunicated from the synagogue. Later some were excommunicated from churches because they dared to follow Jesus instead of vain traditions. Yet, Jesus asked more questions than He answered. He wants us to think. When we are hated for Jesus’ sake, not our sins, we are blessed.
Pain
Luke 6:24-26 “But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.”
The Greek word “ouai” is similar to our English “ouch” and means pain. Why the rich? They already have all they are going to get. Why the fed? They will hunger. Why the laughing? They will mourn and weep. Why the popular? They are in danger of being false prophets.
Have you noticed that Jesus often says the exact opposite of popular ideas? Christianity is for thinking people. Jesus did not establish a Church where people just check their brains at the entry door and blindly follow men. We worship God also with our minds. Jesus challenges us to think.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Perhaps after He gave the Sermon on the Mount, after praying all night on the Mount of Olives, Jesus then came down to give the Sermon on the Plain. It contains some similar puzzles for us to contemplate. Let’s look at the first part of it in Luke 6:17-26.
A Level Place
Luke 6:17-19 “Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place; and there was a large crowd of His disciples, and a great throng of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were being cured. And all the people were trying to touch Him, for power was coming from Him and healing them all.”
This seems to be a different time to the Sermon on the Mount. It may be a similar sermon given the next morning. Just as modern day preachers may give similar sermons in two or more places, the lessons are familiar, but now Jesus is standing on a level place.
This Sermon on the Plain included a multitude that was very mixed, disciples, people, Jews and perhaps even Gentiles from the coastal cities. They had come to receive healing from Jesus. And Jesus did so indiscriminately with an abundant display of His miraculous power.
Blessed
Luke 6:20-21 “And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.”
Contrasted with the Sermon on the Mount which says “blessed are the poor in spirit,” this Sermon on the Plain says, “blessed are the [destitute].” In Greek society, the rich were “the blessed.” As usual, Jesus says the opposite. The poor realize their lack, and are ready to hear God.
“Kingdom of God” is really an incomplete translation in modern English, especially among nations where many may not relate to a monarchy. It is better rendered “reign of God.” It is consistently used to describe the rule of Christ in the hearts of the faithful, who obey His reign now.
Blessed are you who hunger now uses fewer words than in the Sermon on the Mount, “hunger and thirst after righteousness.” Perhaps fewer words also say more. Like riches tend to dull the desire for higher things of God, so does a full stomach dull the hunger of the soul.
Blessed are you who weep. Crying is part of life and certainly includes the Christian experience. We mourn for our own sins and the sins of the world. A result of sin is crying tears. Here is the only place in the entire New Testament where laughter refers to joy.
Luke 6:22-23 “Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.”
The first Christians were excommunicated from the synagogue. Later some were excommunicated from churches because they dared to follow Jesus instead of vain traditions. Yet, Jesus asked more questions than He answered. He wants us to think. When we are hated for Jesus’ sake, not our sins, we are blessed.
Pain
Luke 6:24-26 “But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.”
The Greek word “ouai” is similar to our English “ouch” and means pain. Why the rich? They already have all they are going to get. Why the fed? They will hunger. Why the laughing? They will mourn and weep. Why the popular? They are in danger of being false prophets.
Have you noticed that Jesus often says the exact opposite of popular ideas? Christianity is for thinking people. Jesus did not establish a Church where people just check their brains at the entry door and blindly follow men. We worship God also with our minds. Jesus challenges us to think.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Let Down Your Nets
Do we experience Jesus while we’re working? Are we ready for church growth? Do we see daily miracles? Let’s find out in Luke 5:1-11.
Luke 5:1-2 “Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets.”
Lake of Gennesaret was named after the town of Gennesaret on the lake’s northwest corner. It is also called the Sea of Galilee and Lake Tiberias. Today it is the largest body of freshwater in Israel and is the world’s lowest body of freshwater at 700 feet below sea level. At the time of Jesus’ ministry it was a wealthy fishing area filled with boats. Today there are few boats to be seen.
Luke 5:3-4 ‘And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat. When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”’
Notice Jesus sat down to preach, the customary teaching position for Rabbis at the time. This miracle is repeated, at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and as a reminder to the disciples at the end. After teaching on this weekday, Jesus encouraged Peter to get back to work, even telling him where.
Perhaps the immediacy indicates Jesus’ disappointment in the response from the crowd. Humbly, Peter the expert fisherman, follows the Rabbi’s instructions. Would we be so humble as to follow directions from someone not of our profession? Jesus now wants to bless Peter’s work, as He wants to bless our weekday work.
Luke 5:5-6 “Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break...”
The word Peter used for master was overseer, superintendent, or in our slang “boss.” Is Jesus asking us to let down our nets? What are fishnets for? How is evangelism like letting down our nets? We provide the nets and the effort, but it is God who fills the nets.
The nets were so full that they almost ruptured. This can happen to churches too, during a sudden growth spurt. It can threaten to rupture the fabric of the local church. Most churches would probably prefer slow growth, so that newcomers can assimilate, but God doesn’t always work that way.
Luke 5:7-8 ‘so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!”’
Was the hand-signal used so as not to frighten the fish, or did they not want to shout in front of Jesus? Does this teach us that sometimes when God performs a miracle in the church, there’s no time for meditation or amazement? Can a miracle signal time for work?
As Peter saw the overwhelming catch, he immediately recognized the source of the miraculous blessing. Blunt and truthful, Peter realized his own unworthiness to be in Jesus’ presence. When God blesses our lives in some way, do we react in a similar manner, grateful yet also embarrassed by our sinfulness?
Luke 5:9-10 ‘For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.”’
Slowly, after the work was done, it dawned on them how amazing this blessing was. Do we meditate on God’s amazing creation from the smallest DNA, to the incredible design of our planet, to the uniqueness of our solar system and enormity of the Universe? Does God’s design amaze us?
As fish are borne out of water, so all disciples are born from the waters of baptism. Since that experience, Christians have throughout history described themselves as little fishes, and the symbol of a fish was used to identify a safe house, a Christian home in the midst of persecution.
Luke 5:11 “When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.”
They forsook all for Jesus, but then for a moment after the crucifixion, returned to their fishing. After His resurrection, Jesus used a similar miracle to remind them who He is. Do we hold something in reserve, or have we left ALL our sinful life behind us to follow Jesus?
Do we experience Jesus at work? Are we ready to put our nets in? What’s our response to miracles? Are we humble about our sinfulness in the presence of Jesus? Is a church service incomplete without confession and pardon? Are we ready for the potential for our nets to break?
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Luke 5:1-2 “Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets.”
Lake of Gennesaret was named after the town of Gennesaret on the lake’s northwest corner. It is also called the Sea of Galilee and Lake Tiberias. Today it is the largest body of freshwater in Israel and is the world’s lowest body of freshwater at 700 feet below sea level. At the time of Jesus’ ministry it was a wealthy fishing area filled with boats. Today there are few boats to be seen.
Luke 5:3-4 ‘And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat. When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”’
Notice Jesus sat down to preach, the customary teaching position for Rabbis at the time. This miracle is repeated, at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and as a reminder to the disciples at the end. After teaching on this weekday, Jesus encouraged Peter to get back to work, even telling him where.
Perhaps the immediacy indicates Jesus’ disappointment in the response from the crowd. Humbly, Peter the expert fisherman, follows the Rabbi’s instructions. Would we be so humble as to follow directions from someone not of our profession? Jesus now wants to bless Peter’s work, as He wants to bless our weekday work.
Luke 5:5-6 “Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break...”
The word Peter used for master was overseer, superintendent, or in our slang “boss.” Is Jesus asking us to let down our nets? What are fishnets for? How is evangelism like letting down our nets? We provide the nets and the effort, but it is God who fills the nets.
The nets were so full that they almost ruptured. This can happen to churches too, during a sudden growth spurt. It can threaten to rupture the fabric of the local church. Most churches would probably prefer slow growth, so that newcomers can assimilate, but God doesn’t always work that way.
Luke 5:7-8 ‘so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!”’
Was the hand-signal used so as not to frighten the fish, or did they not want to shout in front of Jesus? Does this teach us that sometimes when God performs a miracle in the church, there’s no time for meditation or amazement? Can a miracle signal time for work?
As Peter saw the overwhelming catch, he immediately recognized the source of the miraculous blessing. Blunt and truthful, Peter realized his own unworthiness to be in Jesus’ presence. When God blesses our lives in some way, do we react in a similar manner, grateful yet also embarrassed by our sinfulness?
Luke 5:9-10 ‘For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.”’
Slowly, after the work was done, it dawned on them how amazing this blessing was. Do we meditate on God’s amazing creation from the smallest DNA, to the incredible design of our planet, to the uniqueness of our solar system and enormity of the Universe? Does God’s design amaze us?
As fish are borne out of water, so all disciples are born from the waters of baptism. Since that experience, Christians have throughout history described themselves as little fishes, and the symbol of a fish was used to identify a safe house, a Christian home in the midst of persecution.
Luke 5:11 “When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.”
They forsook all for Jesus, but then for a moment after the crucifixion, returned to their fishing. After His resurrection, Jesus used a similar miracle to remind them who He is. Do we hold something in reserve, or have we left ALL our sinful life behind us to follow Jesus?
Do we experience Jesus at work? Are we ready to put our nets in? What’s our response to miracles? Are we humble about our sinfulness in the presence of Jesus? Is a church service incomplete without confession and pardon? Are we ready for the potential for our nets to break?
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
The Most Important Thing
What is the most important thing in life? How important are the things of this world, fashion, politics, fame, fortune? What should our priorities be? Let’s find out in 1 Corinthians 13
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.”
The attitude of the speaker is more important that the talent of speaking all the world’s languages. Paul, with his great intellectual ability, preaches that love is more important than intelligence. Love is sometimes poorly translated as charity. Love is NOT charity. Giving to the poor is nothing without love.
If I had the greatest faith anyone could have to even move mountains, as Jesus taught, I’m not a somebody. I’m actually nothing without love. The greatest gifts we could give, even our own lives, profit us nothing without love. Giving out of selfish reasons, and not love, is worthless.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
What kind of love is Paul preaching about? He leaves us no doubt. Love suffers long, is kind, does not envy when others are praised, love enjoys and is glad for them. Love does not brag. When we are impatient, envious or brag, it tells us that love is absent.
More love tests: Have we been arrogant, acted rashly, selfish, easily provoked, count wrongs, enjoy unrighteousness? Do we rejoice in the truth or prefer political, commercial, historic, scientific and religious lies? Do we bear all things, believe all things (the best of people), hope all things, and endure all things.
1 Corinthians 13:8-10 “Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.”
All the things that we think are so great in this world will end. In God’s presence we won’t need prophecies, there will be one language, knowledge of this sinful world and its crazy ways will cease, arguments between Christians will cease because we will know what God considers important.
1 Corinthians 13:11-12 “When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.”
In a world where our leaders act like children, and our children act insolent towards those in authority, because they have “rights”, then we all need to learn that the most mature things we can learn is love. Our vision of God’s perfect world is incomplete, but we see glimpses.
1 Corinthians 13:13 “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
What is permanent in a temporary world? People die, politics comes and goes, nations come and go, music tastes fade, fashions change, but in the life to come these three will remain. Why is love the greatest of them? Faith and hope are ours, but love we give to others.
The greatest thing in the whole world, in international relations, in our nation, in our community, on our jobs, in our church, in our friendships, in our families, in our marriages is love. Let’s grow up; be men and women of God; learn that love is the most important thing.
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 “If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.”
The attitude of the speaker is more important that the talent of speaking all the world’s languages. Paul, with his great intellectual ability, preaches that love is more important than intelligence. Love is sometimes poorly translated as charity. Love is NOT charity. Giving to the poor is nothing without love.
If I had the greatest faith anyone could have to even move mountains, as Jesus taught, I’m not a somebody. I’m actually nothing without love. The greatest gifts we could give, even our own lives, profit us nothing without love. Giving out of selfish reasons, and not love, is worthless.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
What kind of love is Paul preaching about? He leaves us no doubt. Love suffers long, is kind, does not envy when others are praised, love enjoys and is glad for them. Love does not brag. When we are impatient, envious or brag, it tells us that love is absent.
More love tests: Have we been arrogant, acted rashly, selfish, easily provoked, count wrongs, enjoy unrighteousness? Do we rejoice in the truth or prefer political, commercial, historic, scientific and religious lies? Do we bear all things, believe all things (the best of people), hope all things, and endure all things.
1 Corinthians 13:8-10 “Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.”
All the things that we think are so great in this world will end. In God’s presence we won’t need prophecies, there will be one language, knowledge of this sinful world and its crazy ways will cease, arguments between Christians will cease because we will know what God considers important.
1 Corinthians 13:11-12 “When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.”
In a world where our leaders act like children, and our children act insolent towards those in authority, because they have “rights”, then we all need to learn that the most mature things we can learn is love. Our vision of God’s perfect world is incomplete, but we see glimpses.
1 Corinthians 13:13 “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
What is permanent in a temporary world? People die, politics comes and goes, nations come and go, music tastes fade, fashions change, but in the life to come these three will remain. Why is love the greatest of them? Faith and hope are ours, but love we give to others.
The greatest thing in the whole world, in international relations, in our nation, in our community, on our jobs, in our church, in our friendships, in our families, in our marriages is love. Let’s grow up; be men and women of God; learn that love is the most important thing.
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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