The Way of Christian Love

GOLDEN TEXT: “And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” —I Corinthians 13:13

I CORINTHIANS 13

THE King James translation uses the word “charity” instead of love in this wonderful chapter. The basic idea of charity is to bestow good upon others, with no desire or hope of being repaid. It is an unselfish expression of concern for those who are in need. This in part defines the greatest expression of love that has ever, or will ever, be given—“God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”—John 3:16

Certainly the entire world of mankind was in need, helpless, and dying. In giving his Son to save the people, God knew that none would ever be able to repay him, except by an expression of appreciation. Love, however, is more than charity. Divine love also includes fatherly interest, sympathy, understanding, and kindness; and in all these ways God is continually expressing his love for us.

In the chapter preceding his masterful treatise on love, Paul outlines the organizational arrangements of the new creation, the church. He shows that everyone in this organization is given a work to do. It is an organization for carrying on the work of God and of Christ in the earth during the Gospel age. The Lord expects that all in this “body” shall be active, and that each one shall recognize the need of the others, and work together harmoniously with them.

In our lesson, Paul emphasizes the necessity for Christian work to be inspired by the proper motive, the motive of love. Simply to be busy working for the Lord is not enough. One might be very efficient and very self-sacrificing in his service, yet it would count for nothing in God’s sight unless motivated by divine love.

In order to emphasize the importance of love in the Christian life, Paul mentions some of the terms of the narrow way which are clearly stated in the Bible, and shows that even if we measure up to these and do not have love, we would come short of the true Christian standard.

He speaks, for example, of bestowing all his goods to feed the poor. When the rich young ruler asked Jesus what he must do in order to inherit eternal life, Jesus told him it would be necessary for him to thus bestow his wealth. Jesus assured the young man that if he did this, and took up his cross and followed him, he would have “treasure in heaven.” (Matt. 19:21) But Paul emphasizes that unless such sacrifice is motivated by love “it profiteth nothing.”

Paul speaks of giving one’s body to be burned. In Hebrews 13:10-13, he refers to the bodies of the animals which were sacrificed on the typical day of atonement, and explains that they were burned without the camp. Jesus was represented by one of those animals, the bullock, and the goat represented the church. So Paul urges us to go without the camp with Jesus, where those bodies are burned. Thus, symbolically, we give our bodies to be burned, but if love is not the motive, this sacrifice will not be acceptable to God.

Paul informs us that “without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Heb. 11:6) Jesus spoke of a faith by which mountains could be removed; but Paul says that even if we have such faith, unless we also have love, we are “nothing.” He does not mean that if we have love we can get along in the Christian life without faith. He is simply emphasizing the necessity of having the proper motive in all that we say and do.

Verses 4 to 7 inform us of the various characteristics of love, and what it accomplishes when ruling in our hearts. “Love never faileth,” the apostle declares. It never fails to inspire faithfulness in the service of the Lord, even to the extent of giving our “bodies to be burned,” and of bestowing all our goods to feed the poor.

Love never fails to be long-suffering and kind. It never fails to prevent envy, and the vaunting of oneself. It never fails to bear all things, to believe all things, to hope all things, and to endure all things. Love never fails to rejoice in the truth. It never thinks evil, and is not easily provoked.

Nor does love ever seek “her own.” Love, rather, prompts to give up and to sacrifice her own in order that others might be blessed. With such a selfless spirit ruling in our hearts, all the difficulties of the narrow way are much less trying. If our rights are trampled upon, if we are ignored and spurned, love will cushion such experiences and make them seem of little importance.

Faith and hope are both essential to the Christian, but love is greater because it will never cease. When faith and hope have reached fruition in the kingdom, love will continue and will find expression through the glorified church in the blessing of all the families of the earth—blessings of life which were provided by God’s love in the gift of his Son.

QUESTIONS

Does the word “charity” fully express the thought of divine love?

What is the relationship between the 12th and the 13th chapters of I Corinthians?

Why does Paul refer to giving all to feed the poor, and to giving our bodies to be burned?

How does love help us in our trials as Christians?

How will love find expression through the church in glory?

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