Print This Page
Share ThisEXPRESSING LOVE IN ACTION
A woman came out of her house and saw three old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She invited them to her house for some snacks. But the men refused to come in because they knew her husband wasn’t home yet.
When evening came, the husband finally arrived. The woman told her husband everything that happened that day. The husband encouraged his wife to invite the men again since he was already home. When she did, the men said that they couldn’t go inside a house together. The woman was surprised by their reply. Right away, the men introduced themselves as Wealth, Success, and Love. They instructed the woman to discuss with her husband which one of them they wanted to come in. So, the woman went to her husband and shared what was said. Her husband was overjoyed and wanted Wealth to come in. However, the wife disagreed and suggested for Success to be their guest instead.
Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other room. She jumped in with her own suggestion and said that Love would be a better guest in their home. She exclaimed that their home will then be filled with love. So, the woman invited Love to be their special guest. When Love got up and started walking towards the house, the other two also got up and followed him. The woman asked why Wealth and Success were also coming in. The three men replied, “If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would have stayed out. However, since you invited Love, wherever he goes, we go with him. Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!”
What about you? Which one would you want to come into your house? For the past 40 days, we have been studying about the relationship principles of Jesus. We heard inspiring stories of how lives have been changed when they let love come into their lives. In today’s study, we will hammer down some more the topic about love and examine each of its qualities. We will also learn to use our spiritual gifts with love so that our service will be glorifying to God. In this way, we will keep growing in maturity as we constantly express love in our everyday life. Indeed, love is the greatest because God is love! (1 John 4:8)
GETTING STARTED
1. Welcome your group to another study about love. If there are new members in the group, take time to introduce yourselves and review the guidelines that you follow in your Growth Group.
2. Ice Breaker Question: What do you think is the most precious gift you can give to another person? Why?
3. Life Verse: “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Cor. 13:13
GROWING DEEP IN GOD’S WORD
A. The Priority of Love (12:31b—13:1-3)
The word “charity” means “love” in action. It is not simply an emotion; it is the heart reaching out to others. “Charity” today makes us think of giving away old clothes or making gifts to “charitable institutions.” These activities can be Christian love in action, but Paul is demanding much more. The word he uses for love is agape, which is love that sacrifices for the good of others.
Notice how he takes up some of the spiritual gifts of 12:8–10 and shows their emptiness apart from love. Tongues apart from love become mere noise, like the clanging of a cymbal. Prophecy without love makes the prophet nothing. This application can also be made to knowledge (spiritual insight given immediately by the Spirit) and faith. Paul is not minimizing these gifts; he is simply saying that they will have no good effect on the individual or on the church unless there is love in the life of the Christian in the exercise of his or her gifts. We might go so far as to sacrifice our body, but apart from love, this act would amount to nothing. Love is the measure of all things.[1]
1. How does Paul’s description of love differ from the world’s point of view?
2. According to Paul, how can we glorify God with the spiritual gifts that He has given us?
3. Share with the group your spiritual gifts and list some ways you can exercise these gifts in love.
B. The Practice of Love (13:4–7)
Gifts have no spiritual effect on the life of the church if there is no love, for it is love that the Spirit uses to build the church. “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up,” says 1 Cor. 8:1. In verses 4-7, Paul described the qualities of love and how it must be demonstrated in our everyday life.
1. Among the qualities of love, identify the one that needs to be strengthened in your life.
2. What type of personality usually challenges you when expressing love? How do you intend to apply love whenever you encounter this personality type?
3. Cite some ways the believers can grow in their love for each other.
Love is patient and kind (v. 4)
Love rises above petty things and is generous in the way it treats others. It is easy to “love” when people are lovable; how difficult it is to love when they injure or attack us in one way or another. Think of Christ’s patience with Peter after the times Peter sinned against Him, and you have some idea of what this means. Love not only patiently bears with wrongs, but it positively acts in deeds of kindness.[2]
Love never simmers with jealousy (v. 4)
Envy is a terrible sin; Cain envied his brother and killed him! How do we react when other Christians receive blessings or benefits that we lack? Do we allow the sparks of envy to burn and then come to a full flame?
Love is not boastful or proud (v. 4)
A braggart exhibits pride in himself and his accomplishments. But such bragging is devoid of love to God and to one’s fellow man, and is a blatant sin. Further, bragging and arrogance go hand in hand.[3]
Love is not rude or self-seeking (v. 5)
True love seeks only the good of others; it is unselfish. A person who demonstrates love always strives for proper decorum in relation to others. Whether the people whom he meets occupy a high or a low position in society, whether they are friend or foe, the virtue of love is evident in his conduct.[4]
Love is not provoked, nor does it harbor evil thoughts (v. 5)
Christian love shows no irritation, as the flesh too often does. Love does not keep a record of the evil things people do, or the hurts received from them. They offer forgiveness time and again. Both Jesus (Luke 23:34) and Stephen (Acts 7:60) demonstrated this type of love by forgiving the people who put them to death.[5] Also, love is never glad when others get involved in evil, but love is always glad when others are walking in the truth.
Love gives victory (v. 7)
Through Christ’s love in us, we can bear up under anything, have faith, and continue in hope. “It gives us power to endure in anything.” Love always leads to victory!
In these verses, Paul gently rebuked the sins of the Corinthians. They did not have patience with each other in the assembly (14:29–32); they envied the spiritual gifts others possessed (14:1); they were proud and critical (12:21–26); they did not have modesty or grace in their behavior (12:2–16); they sought to uphold their own rights (chaps. 8–10) even if it hurt others; they were easily provoked, and even sued one another (6:1–8); and they rejoiced at sin when they should have judged it (5:1–13). We can also see in these verses a picture of Christ who alone perfectly manifests the love of God to us.[6]
C. The Permanence of Love (13:8-13)
The Corinthian believers were spiritual babies, and, like babies, they were striving for the temporary and neglecting the permanent. They wanted passing spiritual gifts instead of lasting Christian character. Love will never “fail” (cease to have force or authority). These other gifts will pass away; prophetic utterances would be replaced by the written Word of God; tongues would no longer be needed; gifts of special knowledge would be put aside for the teaching ministry of the Spirit from the Word. But love, and the graces it produces, will last forever.
Paul explains that these special gifts were necessary during the infancy period of the church. Special manifestations of the Spirit were the credentials of the apostles (Rom. 15:18–19). God did not always use miracles to attest His truth, but often He did. In Thessalonica, for example, the Spirit revealed Himself in the mighty preaching of the Word, and not in miracles (1 Thes. 1:5–6). In v. 11, Paul uses a simple example from childhood. We do not condemn a child because he talks like a child, but we do condemn an adult for using baby talk. “It is time,” says the apostle, “for you babies to grow up and start talking like adults! Tongues and other special manifestations belong to spiritual childhood. Grow up!” Paul in 14:20 again tells them to quit acting like children.
Furthermore, the church grows closer to perfection through love: believers loving Christ and one another; holding the truth in love; practicing the truth because they love Him. “Building the body up in love” is the way Eph. 4:16 put it, and this is a ministry all of us share. Faith, hope, love—these abide forever; and love is the greatest, for “God is love” (1 John 3:8).[7]
1. Compare the spiritual gifts listed in verses 1-3 with those mentioned in verse 8. What does Paul say about these spiritual gifts?
2. Based on the Scripture passage that we are studying, what should we do in order to grow in maturity?
3. Which is more lasting: spiritual gifts (speaking in tongues, prophecy, knowledge, etc.) or the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, etc)? Why?
4. After studying today’s passage, what important lesson have you learned about love?
Conclusion
The fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22–23) is more important in the Christian life than the miraculous gifts of the Spirit. Whenever the church strives for miraculous experiences rather than Christian holiness and character, there will be division, confusion, and carnality.[8]
Getting Into Action
1. Grow in Love!
a. Identify two qualities of love that you want to put into action this week.
b. Start praying for people and situations that often challenge you when expressing love.
c. Seek for more prayer support and counseling when temper and anger come out uncontrollably.
2. Serve with Love!
a. Check the motive of your heart before you serve.
b. Focus on God and His glory as you serve in the ministry.
c. Offer your work to God and dedicate each day of service to Him.
[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1997). Wiersbe's expository outlines on the New Testament (457). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1997). Wiersbe's expository outlines on the New Testament (457–458). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
[3] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 18: New Testament commentary : Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians. New Testament Commentary (459). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.
[4] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 18: New Testament commentary : Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians. New Testament Commentary (459). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.
[5] Pratt, R. L., Jr. (2000). Vol. 7: I & II Corinthians. Holman New Testament Commentary; Holman Reference (231–232). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1997). Wiersbe's expository outlines on the New Testament (458–459). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
[7] Wiersbe, W. W. (1997). Wiersbe's expository outlines on the New Testament (459). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
[8] Wiersbe, W. W. (1997). Wiersbe's expository outlines on the New Testament (456–457). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.