1 Corinthians 13 - Understanding the Love Chapter
1 Corinthians 13is widely known as the love chapter among Christians, but there is a much deeper message within this passage of 1 Corinthians. Chapters 12 and 14 are all about the spiritual gifts we have through Christ, but it is clear that Paul wants us to recognize that love is more important than any of the spiritual gifts. With love we have nothing.
We must start by attempting to define what love is. The English language has one word for love. We use love to describe how much we love pizza or love our pet. We also love our favorite football team, our kids, and our spouse. These are all different forms of love. Obviously we don't love our favorite football team the same way we love our spouse! We don't love our spouse the same way we love our children or our families. The original language of the Scriptures had many different words to describe love, and this can get confusing as we study the Word of God.
Verses 1 through 4 of 1 Corinthians 13 discusses the motivation of love. What is the motivation behind what we do? Are we truly motivated to love others more than we love ourselves, or do we have a selfish motivation behind our actions. Only we can know for sure what our true motivations are.
Certain members of society have knowledge that can help many people. Doctors have skills that can help save lives. Economists, researchers, and counselors all have skills that can have a great impact on society. Many other professions can make a huge impact on society too, but according to the second verse of 1 Corinthians 13, this expert knowledge will fail you if you use this knowledge without love. Sometimes it is better to be ignorant than to have a lot of knowledge in a specific subject.
Verses 4 through 8 of 1 Corinthians 13 is all about the character of love. We spend our entire lives trying to understand love, and I don't believe anyone can fully understand it until we are in the presence of God in heaven. Love is kind. Think about how you treat other people. Do you treat them with respect and care, or do people see you as a jerk? You cannot love someone if you are not kind toward them.
Love isn't jealous too. You don't have the right to anyone's attention. It is true that a spouse should give their mate a lot of attention, but a spouse shouldn't be jealous if they don't get attention all of the time. A loving spouse would not hold a grudge against a spouse who has to be away on business trips frequently.
When we truly love the Lord, we want the best for everyone. How do we spend our time? Are we more interested in blessing others or in fulfilling our own desires? When we are serving ourselves instead of serving others, we will sometimes resort to lying, slander, cheating, and other sinful acts to get what we want.
Love never fails. It doesn't keep a record of wrongs. It is not easily provoked. Love will endure through all things.
Verses 8 through 13 of 1 Corinthians 13 talks about the enduring quality of love. Love endures forever, and it is not a feeling. Love is much deeper than a feeling. Real love is something that continues forever no matter what happens. Ultimate love is what makes people with extraordinary gifts shine. Love never gives up on us.
We must start by attempting to define what love is. The English language has one word for love. We use love to describe how much we love pizza or love our pet. We also love our favorite football team, our kids, and our spouse. These are all different forms of love. Obviously we don't love our favorite football team the same way we love our spouse! We don't love our spouse the same way we love our children or our families. The original language of the Scriptures had many different words to describe love, and this can get confusing as we study the Word of God.
Verses 1 through 4 of 1 Corinthians 13 discusses the motivation of love. What is the motivation behind what we do? Are we truly motivated to love others more than we love ourselves, or do we have a selfish motivation behind our actions. Only we can know for sure what our true motivations are.
Certain members of society have knowledge that can help many people. Doctors have skills that can help save lives. Economists, researchers, and counselors all have skills that can have a great impact on society. Many other professions can make a huge impact on society too, but according to the second verse of 1 Corinthians 13, this expert knowledge will fail you if you use this knowledge without love. Sometimes it is better to be ignorant than to have a lot of knowledge in a specific subject.
Verses 4 through 8 of 1 Corinthians 13 is all about the character of love. We spend our entire lives trying to understand love, and I don't believe anyone can fully understand it until we are in the presence of God in heaven. Love is kind. Think about how you treat other people. Do you treat them with respect and care, or do people see you as a jerk? You cannot love someone if you are not kind toward them.
Love isn't jealous too. You don't have the right to anyone's attention. It is true that a spouse should give their mate a lot of attention, but a spouse shouldn't be jealous if they don't get attention all of the time. A loving spouse would not hold a grudge against a spouse who has to be away on business trips frequently.
When we truly love the Lord, we want the best for everyone. How do we spend our time? Are we more interested in blessing others or in fulfilling our own desires? When we are serving ourselves instead of serving others, we will sometimes resort to lying, slander, cheating, and other sinful acts to get what we want.
Love never fails. It doesn't keep a record of wrongs. It is not easily provoked. Love will endure through all things.
Verses 8 through 13 of 1 Corinthians 13 talks about the enduring quality of love. Love endures forever, and it is not a feeling. Love is much deeper than a feeling. Real love is something that continues forever no matter what happens. Ultimate love is what makes people with extraordinary gifts shine. Love never gives up on us.
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