Jump Start # 470
1 Corinthians 13:4 “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant”
This evening a young friend of mine is getting married. He first came to me as a kid fresh out of college. With just very little polishing here and there, he has become a very impressive and gifted preacher. He became one of my sons—eating meals together nearly every day, in my home, nearly every day, and daily sharing the work in the kingdom. This Jump Start is dedicated to Kevin and Brooke—I wish you both years of joy and opportunities as you walk together, side by side, one in name and one in a happy destiny together.
Love is…This wonderful section of Corinthians defines the Biblical concept of love. This love is not an emotion, but a choice. It is a choice not based upon the actions of another, but by what is right. This is the word that God used to describe His relationship with us. God loves us. He chose that. His choice was not based upon our behavior, that’s a good thing! This love is action. It’s not candles, soft music, and roses, it’s how we treat others. This word is shown not thought.
Here in Corinthians Paul sticks these five verses about love in a three chapter discussion about spiritual gifts. Paul isn’t thinking about weddings here. The thought isn’t about a man and a woman and forever. We use at weddings and it’s good to do that, but the setting brings a greater lesson for us.
The Corinthians misunderstood spiritual gifts. They viewed them much like a pecking order from Heaven. Certain gifts it was thought by them, meant you were superior to others. Totally NOT the purpose nor the reason that they should have. In a day when the New Testament was not completed, the need for men to be directly guided by God was apparent. Today, we can flip our Bibles from Corinthians, to Galatians, to Revelation. It’s easy. We have it all in a nice bound book. Wasn’t that way in the early days. Folks in Corinth didn’t have access to what was in Galatia. How were they to know? Those books are important. One means to supplement this was the use of spiritual gifts—prophecy, knowledge and tongues allowed brethren to know and teach God’s word across language barriers. Spiritual gifts were never intended to be a sign of salvation, superiority or greatness. As the Bible became recorded, the need for spiritual gifts dwindled. Today, we do not need them. The Bible is available—in every size, color and language.
The Corinthians were fighting about these gifts. It was messy and getting very ugly. Paul devotes three chapters to this issue. He shows them the purpose and intentions of these gifts. He lays out practical instructions about the gifts. It’s all very clear.
But here in the midst of all this heavy discussion about gifts, Paul talks about love. Five verses. He tells us what love is (8 positive statements) and what love is not (8 negative statements). Our verse today starts it off.
Love is patient. Patience is one of God’s virtues. Most folks admit that they need help with this. Patience is hard. Patience is more than waiting. Often we have to wait—such as at stop lights, airport security lines or on the kids. Waiting and patience aren’t the same. A person can wait and still not have patience. Patience is the calm on the inside. Some wait, but they are bothered, agitated, irritated and upset. They are anything but calm on the inside. That’s not patience.
Love is patient. Love is patient with others. Love is patient when others are not where you are spiritually. Love is patient with others who are upside down in their thinking about spiritual gifts. Love realizes that learning is a journey and it takes time. Love in a marriage is premium. Two people with different backgrounds, history, baggage, even sins come together to make a new home. His way and her way…his thinking and her thinking…Love is patient.
Love sees the big picture—whether it’s brethren who don’t understand spiritual gifts or a young couple starting out…or even an old couple who are rounding third base and heading for home. Love is patient. I’m not sure that two people are ever at the same place spiritually in all things. My wife and I are not. She loves singing hymns more than I do. She can sing, I can’t. I ought to be where she is. Love is patient. She loves company in our home. We have it all the time—all the time. Once the work is done and everyone is there I like it, but sometimes I groan when I think about all that has to be done. Love is patient. She’s been very patient with me!
Patience is the fragrance upon which marriages and fellowship blossom. Patience bites it’s tongue instead of saying mean things. Patience helps. Patience leads to kindness, the next word Paul gives in this definition.
And why should we be patient? Why should the Corinthians be patient? Because God is toward us. He has put up with us for a long time. He’s been watching us struggle, stumble, and finally start marching to Zion. God hasn’t given up on us. He never does.
Love is patient. Not easy—but certainly necessary…in the church and at home!
Roger