1 Corinthians 13, Called to Love

Theological Proposition/Focus: The key identifier of a legitimate covenant community is the presence of love.

Homiletical Proposition/Application: Since love is the visible sign that legitimizes our covenant community the Christ follower must ensure that love is central in all their actions.

Introduction:

Image: KFC's secret Ingredient.

I personally like KFC, I know that not everyone does, but I like it. What is it that makes KFC so good? The KFC secret recipe is famously known as Colonel Harland Sanders' "11 herbs and spices." While the exact formula has been a closely guarded secret for many years, a supposed copy of the recipe was discovered in 2016. While this recipe has been widely circulated and tested, KFC has neither confirmed nor denied its authenticity. The company's official stance remains that the original recipe is a trade secret, kept secure in a vault at the KFC headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky.

Unlike KFC, the secret ingredient for the church is no secret. We know what makes the church special, love and without love everything else is just a waste of time.

Setting the Stage:

Paul concludes 1 Corinthians 12 with verse 31b.

"And yet I will show you the most excellent way."

Body

Love is the secret sauce that makes everything else worth tasting (1-3).

Without love, speech is worse than meaningless, it is annoying (1).

Let me start by explaining the word tongues in verse one. The greek word that we translate as tongues is the word γλώσσαις. The word can refer to the speech organ which we know of as the tongue, it can also be used of a systematic body of words which we know of as a language. Finally, there is evidence that some of the Hellenistic cults referred to ecstatic utterances in their religion as tongues. We are going to dig more into the notion of tongues in a later sermon but for now here is what I want to point out to you. No matter what tongues refers to, tongues without love are like a resounding gong or symbol!

Let's dig in just a little. Greek society highly valued eloquence and the first century Corinthians were no exception. In fact, Paul had been criticized for being a good writer but a poor speaker in 2 Cor. 10:10. Culture was fascinated with good speaking and to those who spoke with authority were greatly honored. In fact, it has been suggested that the phrase "tongues of men or of angels" is a hyperbolic reference to individuals whose speech is so eloquent it is surely Heavenly. However, given the emphasis here seems to be on grace gifts it seems more likely this is tongues in the sense of foreign languages or even ecstatic utterances. In this case I think Paul is saying even if your utterances are so beautiful you think they are heavenly without love the utterance is clashing, annoying.

Without love, even profoundly helpful gifts help nobody (2).

Later Paul is going to talk about how different gifts help the church. Some of the most helpful gifts for the edification of the church are the gifts of public communication and instruction of God's Word. Theologians have spent a lot of time breaking down each of the words prophecy, mysteries, and knowledge. I am not going to get into all the details because I don't think that is the point of the passage. I think the point of the passage is something like this. Even if you can get in front of people and clearly teach the will of God. Even if you understand theological details that everyone else struggles with. Even if you have the sort of faith that rallies people to a cause and motivates them to move forward with God's plan, if you don't have love you are nothing.

Think about this. There are some incredibly smart people who know far more theology than I. There are people who have such a profound faith in God that you cannot help but get excited for the vision they cast. There are people who do and teach some amazing truths but without love they are nothing.

Without love, selflessness is empty of meaning (3).

Self-sacrifice for the good of others is a well-known noble act. In fact, other cultures hold this to be noble. The Romans held self-sacrifice for others to be a noble act and in Mark 10:21 Jesus told the rich man to sell all he had and give it to the poor. Self-sacrifice is noble, but, Paul argues self-sacrifice without love is meaningless. Paul even goes further, even if you give your life in the most horrific way without love it is of no gain.

The Corinthians had a problem with factionalism and a desire to prove they had some high spiritual status. Paul is arguing that status before God requires love.

Image: Caffein Free, what's the point.

I have to admit, I am not a caffein person. I love coffee and soda but I always choose caffein free. I just don't like the way Caffein makes me feel. But I know that for many of you when you hear the word caffein-free you say, what the point.

Love is so much more than a mere emotion (4-7).

So let me make a statement that to get us started. Out culture has no idea what love is. Love is not just a feeling or emotion. Let's look at how Paul defines love in verses 4-7.

Love impacts the way I respond to the actions of others (4a).

The first pair Paul uses are the terms patient and kind. Patience is a state of tranquility while waiting or bearing provocation without complaint. Patience is the sort of word that doesn't need much explanation because we all know both what it looks like and unfortunately what it does not look like. The second term in the par is kind. Kindness refers to a state of treating others well. It carries the idea of benevolence and goodness.

Together patience and kindness describe how we should respond to the actions of others. In the presence of annoyance we respond without complaint. In any cases we respond with benevolent goodness. Love demands patience and kindness.Love puts up with another's weaknesses, idiosyncrasies, and problems and seeks to show favor and mercy to others.

Love impacts the way I relate to others (4b-5).

Love impacts how we respond to the actions or inactions of others, but it also affects how we relate to others. The phrases "does not envy, does not boat, is not proud" all connect with how we relate to others. There are individuals who constantly compare themselves with others to see if their status is as good as or better than others. This is not love! Let me say that again, if you are comparing yourselves with others you have a love problem! Love looks at others and delights in how God has blessed others or enters into prayer that God might bless others.

Closely related to envy is boasting. Love is careful not to elevate oneself by boasting. Can you talk about good things in life? Sure, but don't boast. In particular, love seeks not to elevate the self but to elevate the other. Boasting in a way that makes anyone feel small is not love!

Love is not proud, or does not puff up itself. The idea here is that love does not flaunt itself. An individual who is loving will not see themselves as better than another.

In verse 5 the list continues. Love does not dishonor others. You know, the jokes that make you look good at the expense of another. Not loving. Love is not self-seeking. That is love is prepared to give-up its rights for the benefit of the other.

Love is not easily angered. All of us have been on both sides of this. We have let things that were trivial upset us and we have seen others get upset with us for trivial matters. Love lets things go.

Love keeps no record of wrongs. The word λογίζεται means to calculate or reckon and it a mathematical term but is can also be used of the cognitive process of consideration or pondering. Have you ever had something in your mind and found yourself dwelling on it? I have. Love does not dwell on wrongs or let them sit in the mind to fester. Love lets things go quickly.

If you are alive and breathing then you are going to encounter rude, careless, arrogant, and mean people and well-intentioned but hurtful people. As a Christ follower love should impact and even dominate how you interact with these people.

Love impacts the way I view the world (6).

If you live int he world for long you will be exposed to all sorts of evil and it is easy to begin to be impacted by

Image: Name brand and knock off products.

There are things that I don't mind buying the off-label product. When we were in China we enjoyed going to the market and negotiating on items. I remember buying a Nike hat for less than $3 because the swoosh was just a little off center. I was happy to have the hat, it didn't cost me much, and no-one has ever noticed. There are other things where the story is different. I once bought a can of off-label Pringles. They were disgusting. I am sure if you have never had a real Pringle then it tasted fine but these were gross.

Don't settle for off-label love!