Divine Definition of Love

 

1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-7

 Elder Thomas Waters

J. I. Packer was once asked to name the most profound theological truth in the Scriptures.  After a moment’s reflection Packer replied by quoting the words of Anna B. Warner - “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

Among the most prolific and profound topics of Scripture is love.  Love is,

1.    Mentioned more than 500 times in KJV translation of the Bible.  (It is used almost 800 times in the NIV.)

2.    The summary of ALL the Law and the prophets (Mat 22:36‑40) “Jesus said  . . . , Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  On these two commandments hang ALL the law and the prophets."

a.    Consider that.  The Law and the Prophets “hang,” i.e., they depend on love.

b.    We may summarize man’s whole duty toward God and man in one word - love!

c.    We may economize the 10 Commandments in one word - love.

d.    The O.T. - 39 books, 929 chapters - may be apprehended in one word - love.

3.    The explanation God gives of Calvary.  (John 3:16)  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

4.    The basis for assurance of salvation.  (1 John 3:14)  "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death."

5.    The ground for Christian fellowship - (1 Pet 4:8) “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

6.    The greatest Christian virtue (1 Cor 13:13)  "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."

a.    Love is of greater value than any spiritual gift; viz., tongues, prophecy, healings

b.    Love is the virtue that directs and undergirds other noble virtues; viz., peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance - all find their root and realization in love.

 

Love’s profundity is in its practicality.  We teach our children that well-loved and familiar song, Song, “Jesus Loves Me.”  Like this song, the numerous commands in the Bible to love are simple to understand.  One does not need be a spiritual giant to understand the words of Christ, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”  Love’s profundity is not in its definition but its application.  The problem is not in our understanding but in our doing.  For example, who among us:

1.    Loves God with all our hearts?

a.    That is, we make personal decisions based upon our relationship with and love for God?

b.    That is, because we so love God we consider how our actions affect God?

2.    Loves our fellow man as ourselves?

a.    That is, we regularly pray for those who anger or threaten us?

b.    That is, after some unthoughtful driver cuts you off, you ask God to bless them?

c.    Who of us, when slandered by some callous person, goes home and bakes them a pie?

It is true.  The commands to love are simple to understand but difficult to apply.  I quote again from Brother Roe Scott concerning love, “This is hard doctrine, it is not easy to love your enemies and love those who hate you.”

In a previous article, I noted 1 Corinthians 13 may be divided into three primary divisions.

1.    Vs. 1-3 - Necessity of love

2.    Vs. 4-7 - Definition of love

3.    Vs. 8-13 - Permanence of love

In this article, we want to examine a little closer the definition of love.  Before we consider the definition of love, however, let us make a couple of general observations about the chapter.  First, I think of 1 Corinthians 13 as an illusion-buster.  Like those who reveal the fraud and dispel the claims of professed psychics, in 1 Corinthians 13 Paul takes the gloves off and tells us what real Christianity is all about.  Paul said it did not matter what he said, did or even gave - IF HE HAD NO LOVE - - - it was pointless, he was a fraud.  Second, 1 Corinthians 13 is an intimidating chapter.  It reminds me of Proverbs 31 or 1 Timothy 3.  In Proverbs 31 we read about the virtuous woman.  What woman could hear this passage read and not be intimidated?  John Gill says the description is allegorical.  Gill said, “the description is drawn up to such a pitch, and wrote in such strong lines, as cannot agree with any daughters of fallen Adam” (Commentary, Vol IV, p. 543).  In similar fashion, 1 Timothy 3 lists the qualifications for Elders and deacons.  The qualifications are daunting.  1 Corinthians 13 is  much like that.  It is a chapter of poetically beautiful language, but extremely difficult concepts.

1 Corinthians 13 contains a DIVINE definition of love.  Frequently, there exists a  contrast between man’s view of love and God’s.  Man’s definition is primarily emotional in nature.  Go look at the greeting cards and read how men define love.  Generally in a very romantic and poetical nature.  Webster’s dictionary defines love as “a deep and tender feeling of affection . . .”  Therein lies a great problem.  Man defines love as an emotion - feeling.  Yet when I read “love your enemies,”  I must confess my enemies do not make me feel warm and fuzzy.  The difference is, man emphasizes feelings but God defines love primarily as actions.  Therefore, when God says love your enemies, He is not addressing man’s emotions but actions.  Notice the verbs Christ used in Matthew 5,  “Bless them, do good, and pray - - feed them, clothe them, lend . . .”  I am not suggesting love is lacking all emotion, but I am saying God defines it more in terms of objective actions instead of subjective feelings.

In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, love is defined by 15 items.  Of course, some of these items involve emotion, but  ALL involve action.  Seven of the items mentioned are stated positively and eight negatively.

1.    Love suffers long (+)

2.    Love is kind (+)

3.    Love does not envy (-)

4.    Love does not parade itself (-)

5.    Love is not puffed up (-)

6.    Love does not behave itself rudely (-)

7.    Love does not seek its own (-)

8.    Love is not provoked (-)

9.    Love thinks no evil (-)

10.     Love does not rejoice in iniquity (-)

11.     Love rejoices in truth (+)

12.     Love bears all things (+)

13.     Love believes all things (+)

14.     Love hopes all things (+)

15.     Love endures all things (+)

Jerry Bridges says if we were to put the phrases into motivational statements it would sound like:  I am patient with you because I love you and want to forgive you.  I am kind to you because I love you and want to help you.  I do not envy your possessions or your gifts because I love you and want you to have the best.  I do not boast about my attainments because I love you and want to hear about yours.  I am not proud because I love you and want to esteem you before myself.  I am not rude because I love you and care about your feelings.  I am not self-seeking because I love you and want to meet your needs.  I am not easily angered by you because I love you and want to overlook your offenses.  I do not keep a record of your wrongs because I love you, and love covers a multitude of sins.”

Love is a Motivational Force that results in action.  In light of this reconsider - (1 John 3:14)  "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death."  Is your claim of love for God and man measured not merely by feelings, but actions?   Love is the root of patience, kindness, desire for the other’s well-being, overlooking hurt, basis of forgiveness . . .  A Grandparent is patient with their grandchild.  Why? They love them?  Parents want their children to have better than they had.  Why?  Love.  A wife desperately hopes that her unbelieving husband will be converted, live a godly life and join her in attending church.  Why?  Love.  A husband, although provoked by his wife, does not respond rudely.  Why?  Love.  A believer hears a rumor about a fellow member and is shocked and embarrassed and hurt because love thinks no evil and does not rejoice iniquity. A fellow member hurts your feelings, but love for him guides your actions and you do not behave rudely.  Love is the glue of fellowship, forgiveness and the basis of spiritual and numerical growth!

How can we so love?  It certainly is not natural.  At the root of biblical love is a simple and defining principle.  How can a believer love according to 1 Corinthians 13?  He must die unto himself and live unto Christ.  We read in Romans 6:13,  "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God." 

­  Having no jealousy - means dying to the desire for unshared affection.

­  Not boasting - means dying to the desire to call attention to our successes

­  Not acting unbecomingly - means dying to the desire to express our freedom offensively.

­  Not seeking our own way - means dying to the dominance of our own preferences.

­  Not being easily provoked - means dying to the need for no frustrations.

­  Not taking account of wrongs - means dying to the desire for revenge.