1 Corinthians 13
By Ruth Looper
As the yearlong study of discipleship led by the editors of A Shared InHERitance draws to a close, the emphasis lies on putting our love for Jesus Christ into action.
Love’s attributes are eloquently described in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, NKJV:
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (I Corinthians 13:4-7).
The same chapter declares in verse 13, ”And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Why is love the greatest? Perhaps because, “…God is love” (I John 4:8). God embodies love and is the source of all love.
How can we not be overwhelmed with love for the Lord when we glimpse the enormity of Jesus’ crucifixion! It is adoration which inspires action and the direction we must travel as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2). The love we feel toward Jesus Christ is inspired by how He thoroughly loved us first (I John 4:19). Any reasonable person who learns of Jesus’ torture and death feels shock and horror when imagining His experiences. The ridicule and mocking—how a Man could be goaded, baited, and violently assaulted—while still maintaining His meekness is astounding. Consider the scourging which would have torn the skin and muscles of His back into shreds, the stakes driven into his wrists and feet, the deprivation of food and water all borne without complaint. It causes one to shudder when only imagining what Jesus must have felt. God’s plan to let His own beloved Son die this horrible death is further evidence for His incalculable love. The completeness of Jesus’ sacrifice, which created the avenue for us to become children of God, is the greatest treasure ever given to mankind (I John 3:1-2).
So the question becomes, what is our response to God’s awe-inspiring plan?
Knowing fully our actions can never repay our Lord, but yearning to show love and respect, we endeavor to follow His instructions, seek Him daily and hunt for ways to further His kingdom. God advised in Isaiah, “Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow” (Isaiah 1:17). It is clear we must learn to do good.
Jesus provided a spiritual roadmap:
Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment, And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:29-31).
Our love motivates us to completely obey and serve our Master. For He says, “If you love me, follow my commandments” (John 14:15). That means, whatever is more important than Jesus must go. He wants my whole heart, not just the leftovers after I attend to my other priorities. As a Christian, the goal is to channel all of our time, energy, resources, talent, and efforts in a way that will bring glory and honor to our Father.
Indeed, He molds us once we are in Christ to do good works: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Good works are emphasized as well in I Timothy 2:10 when Paul says that we should not be concerned with our outward appearance “but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.” The epistle of Paul to Titus further underscores the essentiality of good works: “In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility” (2:7). Admirable traits and fruitfulness are inextricably linked with good works: “And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful” (3:14). Therefore, each Christian must eagerly search for opportunities to serve. Being kind to those we have not yet met, offering to study the Bible with a neighbor, and planting the seed of God’s word whenever we are able to sprinkle it into a conversation are all examples of doing good.
Growth results from serving—from placing God first, then others second, and finally our own needs third. Only by remaining in the Vine, however, are we able to bear fruit—our personal Bible study is crucial. Enriching ourselves in God’s word daily is extolled in the first Psalm, verses 1-3:
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
Rich rewards await the diligent Bible student.
Each morning as we face the day, it is advisable to begin on our knees, thanking God for keeping us safe in our sleep, and to use this day to His glory. Reading God’s word further infuses my heart with joy: “The works of the Lord are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them” (Psalm 111:2). After spiritually placing on the whole protective covering of God’s word (Ephesians 6:10-18) it is important not to just stand there in my armour but to work in His kingdom.
As I encounter others, I seek to shine the light of Christ and positively influence them: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). The joy we receive from serving others in the biblical way provides peace.
Show eagerness and try to be the first to volunteer to meet urgent needs. With this mindset, I will find more opportunities to bless others. We will come to be known as reliable helpers when difficulties arise. We learn of still more unmet needs. Not only are we to be working good wherever and whenever we can, we’re supposed to be urging our brethren to do the same: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24).
In contrast, a dire warning is given in John 15:6 to anyone neglecting regular and rigorous Bible study: “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”
Good works include visiting “orphans and widows in their trouble” and keeping myself “unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). Given the common distractions and temptations living here in a tent on earth, I find redirecting my thoughts is essential - a structured approach useful. The following was presented once during a talk to the North Terrace Church of Christ in Lutz, Florida. Perhaps the mnemonic L.O.V.E. will help us call to mind our purpose when pressures threaten to cause imbalance:
L Looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith—Hebrews 12:2
Looking for places to plant the seed of God’s word—I Corinthians 3:6
Looking toward and praying for places to serve—I Corinthians 9:19-22
Looking to edify our sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus—I Thess 5:11, Galatians 5:13
O Obeying God and all authorities he has placed in my life; Obedience in action means
keeping my eyes off the world—I John 2:15-17
Practicing righteousness, abiding in the vine of Jesus—I John 2:28-29; I John 3:7
Praying for all men—I Timothy 2:1-4
V Verifying anything anyone says about God or His word, like the noble Bereans. Reading the text and deciding for myself—Acts 17:11
Verifying, am I on the straight and narrow? Do I “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong”—II Corinthians 13:5
E Extolling the majesties of almighty God; praising Him in every circumstance—Psalm 13:5-6; Psalm 150:6
Exhorting one another daily—spurring each other on to good works—Hebrews 3:13 and Hebrews 10:25
Exhilarating in His goodness; counting my blessings; refusing to voice negativity—Isaiah 57:19
When we reflect on Jesus’ pain and suffering which paid the price for our salvation, our obedience and service in the Lord’s kingdom is richly fueled. We aspire to emulate our Brother Jesus by humbly loving and serving those around us while spreading the Gospel of Christ.