The Importance of Love

The Importance of Love

June 8, 2008

Introduction

How important is love? Paul said, “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.” (1 Cor 13:1-3 NKJV)

In summary, he is saying, no matter how smart, how talented and gifted, how sacrificing I am, without love, “I am nothing.” So since love is so important, we ask three questions, “What is love?” “What are the degrees of love?” “What does love do?”

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.

D. “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. Sometimes we here the flip side of this.

I’ve often heard someone receive a great compliment and then say, “I am truly humbled by your kind remarks.

3. Promoting ourselves serves no good purpose.

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.

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

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)

1. As I was preparing my thoughts for today, my first thought was to speak on zeal, but then I decided it had to be a special directed zeal: It had to be love.

2. Jesus wants the zeal and the excitement of a first love.

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. What does love do?

A. It speaks the truth in love.

(Eph 4:15-16 NKJV) but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head; Christ; {16} from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

1. The body is to grow in love.

2. We are to build up the body in love.

3. We are to stand for the teachings of the word of God – in love.

a. We do no one a favor by compromising the truth.

b. We do no one a favor by being harsh and unloving in our teaching of the truth.

B. Love corrects error in gentleness.

(2 Tim 2:24-25 NKJV) And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, {25} in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,

1. God is the God of peace.

(Rom 15:33 NKJV) Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

2. We are to deal peacefully with others.

(Heb 12:14-15 NKJV) Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: {15} looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

3. Correcting error is very important.

(James 5:19-20 NKJV) Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, {20} let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

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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