Devotional: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Posted by David Ketter on May 15, 2005
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Continuing our study of 1 Corinthians 12 & 13, we come at last to the character of love. Now, we have already looked at the concept, the definition of agape love but this month, it’s nature - the very fruit of its efforts, will be our topic.
The Apostle Paul was very clear and very concise whenever he wrote to the Church. It is no wonder that he wrote the majority of the New Testament, considering his eloquence and skill with theological concepts. And 1 Corinthians 13 is no exception. Paul drivels out the nature of love in so much detail that, after studying this subject, it would be hard not to notice it when we find it.
First of all, Paul says that “love is patient.” In the English language, patience is a word that has a weak meaning - mostly due to its common usage. But if we look to the original Greek that Paul wrote in, we find the true meaning behind the word. Makrothumeo literally means “to not lose heart” or “to be patient in bearing the offenses and injuries of others.” This is closely connected with Jesus’ teachings about persecution. Many of us will remember His words: “Love your enemies, and pray for those who hurt you,” “Blessed are you, when people revile you, and say all kinds of evil against you, falsely for my sake,” and “And if a man smites you on the cheek, offer to him the other.” The love that God gives to us is not just a gift to be shared, but a strengthening comfort for believers in Christ.
Next, Paul says “love is kind.” This is another word that has lost its full meaning in the English language. In the Greek, however, it speaks a message of power. Chresteuomai implies the action of kindness, not a feeling or a communication of sympathy. So the love of Christ manifests itself in deed. This is in agreement with 1 John 4:9-10 [NKJV], which says, “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
The next three characteristics of love are closely tied: “it does not envy, it does not boast. It is not proud…” When one has the agape love of God, we neither covet what others have nor do we brag about what we have been provided with by our Lord. To have love is to be content. The word for “proud” in this passage literally means “puffed up.” Most everyone has heard of or read about the ocean’s exotic creatures. Among them is what is commonly known as a “puffer fish.” This aquatic being, when threatened by enemies, releases certain gases within its body that inflate it to a rather large size, when compared to its normal form. Pride is much the same, although it is not often used to threaten enemies, but to attract the attention of others. God’s love working in us, is not proud.
Likewise, the three following also form a triad: “it is not rude, it is not self seeking. It is not easily angered…” The original Greek for “rude” actually refers to acting “unbecoming” or “indecent.” What Paul has done is to list an appropriate opposite of kindness. Where kindness was listed as a manifested action of the love of Christ. This rudeness is an action that is not made manifest by it. Self-seeking is also similar because it is directly opposed to the contentedness we have previously examined. The Greek phrase translates to mean to “demand its own way.” Love does not impose itself on others. Because of this, it does not allow itself to be imposed on by responding in anger.
“Love…keeps no record of wrongs.” Probably the best example come from our Savior Himself. The Gospel of Matthew, in the 18th chapter tells us (verses 21-22), “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Now, I don’t know about you but seven sounds like enough to me! 
Yet, what does Jesus say? Forgive him “Seventy-seven times.” In Jewish culture, the number seven is very significant, for a variety of reasons - one of which is that it represents completeness or fulfillment. So, what Jesus meant by saying seventy-seven (or seventy times seven) is basically our equivalent of infinity! Truly, agape love requires us to “forgive and forget.”
The next two characteristics tell us something of the nature of love that is quite apart from our actions and thoughts: “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth.” In this whole list of ideas, these two are quite unique because they betray the core value of agape: it has no part in evil and is bound inseparably with the Truth. Indeed, the Bible tells us that “God is love.” Jesus also made the statement, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” Not only does love rejoice in truth, but love is truth.
The final four are closely aligned with faith. The King James Version of the Bible, for instance, translates it this way: “[Love] [b]eareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” In Christ, love protects our faith, provides a trust in the Living God, keeps that spiritual fire burning, and gives us the ability to “fight the good fight of faith.”
