Our Commitment, Love

Our Commitment, Love - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 It is one of the most popular chapters of the Bible because of the fiery (which is very strong, burning, afire, boiling) defense of love as "the fundamental force of Christianity." Love is the foundation of your life. Paul makes a burning of love. This was Paul's move; love was what led him to a surrender to the Churches. His foundation of moving, speaking, correcting, and serving was the love he knew from his Lord. That's how he lived and died.

I. (Matthew 22:39) You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

A. The first responsibility of our lives is to love God, with heart, soul, and mind.

1. Our second responsibility is to love your neighbor as you love yourself.

2. What is love of God and man comprises the totality of religion.

3. To produce (bear fruit) this has been the design (purpose, intention, or plan to accomplish) of Moses, the prophets, the Savior, and the apostles.

4. We should weigh (determine weight, examine carefully, exaggerate) frequently the words "you shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Barnes)

5. We should think about how much we love ourselves, how much of our "activity focuses on the care and comfort of the self."

6. Then we should try to imagine what it would be like if we poured out this love.

7. We should do it.

8. This behavior is not natural: it is supernatural.

9. "Only those who are born again can act like this," and even in their case only when they let Christ do it through us.

10. Have you ever wondered if you love?

11. (V. 4-7) Someone has said: This did not begin as a treatise on love, but like most of the literary pearls of the New Testament, it was introduced in connection with some local situation.

12. The Corinthians were impatient, discontented, envious, bloated, selfish, unseemly, indifferent to the feelings of others, suspicious, grudges and critics.

13. Paul now presents, in contrast, the traits of true love.

14. First of all, "love is (patient) suffered", it is benign, patient, "knows how to endure" the evils and injustices that come from the wickedness of men (that is the meaning of the Greek word), "by trusting" in the protection of God. For this reason, they live in suffering, in their waiting.

15. It is benign, treats his neighbor with his "service" with kindness and with every opportunity to do good to others, has good will, understanding and sympathy.

16. Love is not envious of others, but is pleased that they receive honor and goodness, does not feel jealous for the good of others, but rejoices that others enjoy the greatest and best goods of every kind.

17. It is not boastful; it is not puffed up (conceited). He realizes that everything he has is a gift from God and that there is nothing in man that he can be proud of.

18. Even the gifts of the Holy Spirit are sovereignly bestowed by God and should lead no one to pride or haughtiness, however spectacular the gift.

19. "Love" "does nothing wrong" (unjust, illegal) (v. 5).

20. If someone is truly acting with love, they will be courteous and considerate.

21. He does not seek his own, love is not selfish, but is interested in what can be of help to others.

22. Love is not irritated (great anger, ire), but is willing to endure contempt and insults.

23. Love does not hold grudges, does not take evil into account, that is, does not attribute bad motives to others.

24. It has no suspicion about his intentions.

25. There is no room for deception in it.

26. (V.6) Love does not rejoice in injustice, but rejoices in truth, let us be able to rejoice in truth, because the life of the human being does not live in truth, but in lies, deceit and betrayal. No one likes truth; reason, they don't love.

27. (V.7) Love suffers everything (damage, pain, moral damage, suffers) love patiently bears everything. Love does not unnecessarily publicize the faults of others, although it must be firm in applying godly (even misfortune leads to repentance) discipline when necessary.

28. Love "believes" everything, that is, it tries to give the best interpretation to actions and events.

29. Love "waits for everything," in the sense that it fervently desires that all things have the best outcome.

30. Love "endures everything", persecutions or mistreatment for Christ, does not faint. Amen.