Love Never Fails
A consideration of 1Cor chapter 13
I Jn 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
1 Cor 13:1-2 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
If we always say the right words and speak with perfect language, and yet, if we are not motivated by love, our words are meaningless. If we know all things and if we have a perfect understanding of all the Scriptures, and yet, if we do not have love, our knowledge and understanding is worthless. If we have mountain moving faith, and yet, do not have love, our faith is worthless.
When a Christian is a gifted speaker, has great knowledge, has great understanding, and has great faith, we usually admire and respect him for his great abilities. We usually delight in such a person and think of him as being a very valuable and worthwhile Christian; but, the scriptures say that such a person is really nothing if he does not have love. Love must be the reason for all that we do with all our abilities. All Christian ministry must be carried out with love as the motive; if not, our ministry has no value and we are nothing.
1 Cor 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
If we give all that we have and even sell ourselves as indentured servants and give the wages of our service to others, and yet, if we are not motivated by love, our actions are worthless.
Love for self can be the motive for our good works. We must be careful that we do not serve others for self-gain; if we do, our service is worthless.
1 Cor 13:4-7 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. (KJV)
1 Cor 13:4-7 Love is patient, love is kind, {and} is not jealous; love does not brag {and} is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong {suffered,} does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (NAS)
Love is patient. Love is tolerant toward others. Love endures trying circumstances with others and maintains an even temper.
Love is kind. Love is compassionate towards others. Love is tender, considerate, and helpful.
Love is not jealous. Love is not envious, does not desire anything another person may have, but instead is even thankful for the advantages of the other person.
Love does not brag. Love does not boast about oneself. When we boast about ourselves, we put other people down by elevating ourselves above them. Boasting can make other people feel inferior to us.
Love is not arrogant. Love is not conceited or puffed up with pride, does not elevate oneself above others, does not lord it over others.
Love does not act unbecomingly. Love does not behave improperly towards others, does not take advantage of others in any circumstance. Love is well-mannered toward others in speech, in behavior, and in dress.
Love does not seek its own. Love is not selfish. Love seeks the benefit of others before oneself.
Love is not provoked. Love is not easily angered, does not respond to ill treatment from others.
Love does not take into account a wrong. Love does not keep a record of injuries inflicted by others; true love is unconditional.
Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness. Love does not rejoice when others do evil, but it rejoices when others do good. Love does not delight to see anyone involved in any form of evil.
Love rejoices in the truth. Love rejoices when the truth is made known. Love never rejoices when someone is unjustly accused.
Love bears all things. Love puts up with others when they are unpleasant, even when they continue to be unpleasant, unkind, and unloving.
Love believes all things. Love believes the best about others. Love continues to have confidence in others even when no one else does.
Love hopes all things. Love continues to hope for the best for others, even when they may not deserve the best.
Love endures all things. Love continues to love, no matter how much it costs. Love does not give up on the person loved. Love prevails, both in good times and bad times.
1 Cor 13:8-10 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
We place great value on the temporary gifts of the Holy Spirit, and they are valuable; but, if we do not exercise those gifts in love, they have no true value. The spiritual gifts of prophecies, tongues, and knowledge will fail; they will be done away with. They will no longer be needed, because we will know all things when we see Christ. When we see Jesus we will be made perfect as He is perfect. I Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. Because His love is perfect, we will truly love Him and one another with a perfect love. Our love will continue for all eternity. Our love will never fail, just as sure as His love will never fail.
1 Cor 13:11-12 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
As long as we are in this flesh, we are like children; we have limited knowledge. When we see Jesus, face to face, we will finally be mature. We will know all things that God has for us to know. Their will not be any need for teachers in heaven, for we will all be equally knowledgeable. There won’t be any haves and have-nots in heaven. Everyone will have full knowledge; therefore, there will not be any need for the present day spiritual gifts.
1 Cor 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Love is said to be greater than faith and hope because love must be the motive for all that we do as a result of our faith and hope. Furthermore, love will continue forever without end; but, faith and hope will end, when all that we hope for as a result of our faith becomes a reality.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Because we have faith, we hope for that which we have not seen. We have a hope of rewards in heaven because we have faith. Nevertheless, we will not be rewarded for all that we do, as a result of our faith and hope, unless love is the motive for all that we do.
Scripture taken from King James Bible
Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, ©
Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968,
1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1988. Used by permission.
* Bible Studies by Max Swan
Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD. (NAS) Jer 9:23-24