The Greatest Thing in the World

The Greatest Thing in the World

April 18, 2020

Introduction

What is the greatest thing in the world? For some, it is money. Many become greedy for more money. What can you do with money? You can buy things! Many Christians become obsessed with money and the desire for more money because of what money will buy.

This love for money and material things is translated into our ideas of eternal life. We sometimes sing a song about the world to come, and part of the song says, I’ve got a mansion just over the hill top, and then the wishes are made know: “I want a gold one that’s silver lined.” As I hear that song, I sometimes think, silver tarnishes. If it’s the same silver, and it tarnishes, you better hope for lots of tarnish remover, and will you have time for anything else but polishing mansion.

What is the picture of eternal life that Jesus gave? In John 14, He had this to say: (John 14:1-3 NKJV) "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. {2} "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. {3} "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

The emphasis is on our being together, not on the streets of the gold, or the silver lined mansion. That’s why love is so important. (1 Cor 13:1-3 NKJV) Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. {2} And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. {3} And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

It was this chapter that inspired Henry Drummond to write, “The Greatest Thing in the World." The Greatest Thing in the world”

Body

I. What is love?

(1 Cor 13:4 NKJV) Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

A. “Love suffers long.”

1) to be of a long spirit, not to lose heart

1a) to persevere patiently and bravely in enduring misfortunes and troubles

1b) to be patient in bearing the offenses and injuries of others

1b1) to be mild and slow in avenging

1b2) to be longsuffering, slow to anger, slow to punish

n a big order!

B. Love . . . is kind.

C. “love does not envy.”

1. Liberal politicians thrive on promoting envy:

a. I’ll take from the rich and give it to you.

b. At the least, I’ll take it from the rich oil companies. We won’t let them get away with this!

2. When I envy someone else, I’m engaging in self love and self pity.

(Phil 4:11-12 NKJV) Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: {12} I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

3. When I envy you, I’m wishing I had what you have instead of your having it.

“love does not parade itself, is not puffed up.”

1. Jesus taught us to be humble.

(Luke 14:10-11 NKJV) "But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, 'Friend, go up higher.' Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. {11} "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

2. Promoting ourselves serves no good purpose.

Love does not seek its own.

(1 Cor 13:5 NKJV) does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

1. Thus, it is not demanding of others.

2. It is thoughtful of others wishes and desires.

(John 15:13 NKJV) "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.

E. Love is lasting and enduring.

(1 Cor 13:6-7 NKJV) does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; {7} bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1. It’s a mother’s love for her child.

2. It’s the Savior’s love for the world.

II. What are the degrees of love?

A. We just gave Jesus example of the greatest love.

B. We gave the example of a mother’s love and devotion to her children.

C. Jesus wants of us, the fervor of our first love.

To the church at Ephesus He said, "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. {5} "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place; unless you repent.” (Rev 2:4-5 NKJV)

3. He told us how to get back to where we should be:

(Rev 2:5 NKJV) "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works,”

a. Remember! Reflect back on how you once felt! Recapture the feeling!

b. Follow up: “repent and do the first works.”

c. Regain the spirit and the fervor that you once had!

III. Why is eternal life great?

A. God and Jesus will be there..

(John 14:1-3 NKJV) "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. {2} "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. {3} "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

B. Love is the great abiding quality that will make eternal live great.

(1 Cor 13:13 NKJV) And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Conclusion

I. What is love? It is kind, patient, humble, and seeking the good of others.

II. What degree of Love does God expect? The fervor of our fist love.

III. What does love do? It seeks the very best for other people?

If we love God, we will submit to Him, and keep His commandments.

(John 14:15 NKJV) "If you love Me, keep My commandments.

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