Good works will never get us into God’s Kingdom!
Who is Saint Valentine? Sources state that there were several Saint Valentines—all martyred, condemned to death for their love for Jesus, and beheaded for their faith. Remembering Saint Valentine might put a damper to your special day!
While the celebration of Valentine’s Day has more to do with secular tradition, it does reflect on the unconditional, sacrificial, self-less love Jesus had for us. Jesus doesn’t just suggest but commands us to love and prefer others: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:12-13).
The “love” chapter (1 Corinthians 13) of the Bible is one of the most notoriously sentimentalized because it contains the word “love.” We usually fill in our definition of what that word means—warm, fuzzy, or romantic feelings, often only temporary, but there’s a lot more to it.
“Love” in the New Testament is the guiding principle of all theology. Without God pouring meaning into it, love can’t be understood. We can’t merely supply our definition. It is the life, ministry, and death of Jesus, and all of their ramifications, that give us the meaning of the word “love.”
Love is tied to all aspects of life. It is the acid test to determine whether our life has been touched by grace. It is possible to love without being a Christian, but it is not possible to be a Christian without loving.
In examining the key verses in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, we find that love is something we do (not just think about or feel). Love requires positive action and tells the world who we are. We are not saved by what we do. Good works will never get us into God’s Kingdom, but they identify us as “kingdom people.”
Think about what Paul writes and ask yourself a few questions: Am I reflecting Jesus’ love in my words and actions? Do I think I’m more righteous, better than others? Am I a good friend—a witness to Christ’s love and grace in my life?
-Love is patient. The Old English has a better rendering, “long-suffering.” Love suffers long for the sake of love. It puts others first and puts up with others.
-Love is kind. It is not merely “nice” as in some senile benevolence, but it means here to “return good for evil.” Whenever evil is rendered, one intentionally responds with good.
-Love is not jealous. It is not selfishly jealous, seeking its comfort or well-being. It seeks to promote, not destroy the other person.
-Love is not boastful. It is not puffed up, like one of those blowfish seen in the Aquarium. Have you heard of the “Bleeding Pharisee?” He wanted the world to know he was “righteous” so he would turn his eyes away from any woman in public (to keep from lustful thoughts). He would rather trip, fall into a ditch, or run into a wall. Thus, he was forever bleeding.
-Love is not arrogant or rude. It is never unfair. Love is never unjust. It is even-handed, honest, and balanced. It is possible to appear externally as a person of integrity and goodness and to be known as such. Still, it is possible to tolerate or even foster injustice or falsehood internally.
-Love does not insist on its own way. It does not seek what belongs to its neighbor and is prepared to give up what rightfully belongs to oneself. It is prepared to give up a right, to lay it down if love for the brother or sister requires it.
-Love is not irritable. It is not touchy or peevish. It is not waiting to flare up and be offended at any moment. Most of us know those who always seem to be just waiting to be offended. They eagerly anticipate it, and when the hoped-for moment comes they appear to be basking in the glory of it and soaking in the tragedy of it all.
-Love does not rejoice at the wrong. Love does not take pleasure in being unkind or abusive. It doesn’t even take self-righteous pleasure in not being so. It rejoices in the right. It loves justice and truth. It loves that which is right, just, and true no matter to whom it’s happening, even at the cost of one’s own private interest.
-Love bears all things. It never loses faith. “It believes all things,” it never ceases to hope, and “it endures all things.” No rebuff or insult can drive it away, stop it or cool it. What an amazing thought! No rebuff or insult can drive away true love.
It must be obvious by now that we are not simply talking about general platitudes of moral life. Here the apostle is describing a plumb-line which serves as a standard by which all our actions and words are to be measured. Only the self-deluded would read Paul’s words and say, “Yup, that’s me alright!” The normal response would be, “That’s not me! I’m far from that. I don’t measure up, nor do I think I ever could.”
God gives us a standard which is higher than all others. It is a standard of love which serves as our protection. A life of love is for our safety. It keeps us safe because if we live a life of selfishness, slander, or dishonesty, it will turn against us and destroy us and our families.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).
Jesus is our standard bearer. God gives us a high standard that is impossible to achieve, but he sends us powerful help to accomplish our high calling to love. 1 Corinthians 13 is the most famous of all chapters in the Bible about what love means is carefully placed between two principal chapters dealing with life in the Holy Spirit. It signals that the Holy Spirit and love’s requirements are inseparable. We couldn’t do anything without the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit comes alongside us and enables us do that which we can’t on our own. Through his strength, we can fulfill Jesus’ command to love. Praise God that his “love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:5).
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