Love is Extravagant!
Tongues, prophecy, knowledge, absolute faith, philanthropy, martyrdom without the love of God in Christ translates into nothing, an absolute zero.
Go back and read again the greatest essay ever written about love. First Corinthians 13 always reminds me of the highest priority in the Christian's life. "And now faith, hope, and love remain, these three, but the greatest of them is love" (1 Cor 13:13).
Why is this chapter so important for Christian growth? It is an amazing portrait of Jesus Christ. Read through this chapter again replacing the name of Jesus Christ instead of the word "love" or "compassion." This is the wonderful picture of Christ who models perfect love for us.
Love is patient (1 Cor 13: 4).
Love is lasting. His grace extends even in the most heated moments in life. When our nerves are twitched we should not lose our temper. He is not easily frustrated and short tempered. The love of God sees in us beyond the circumstances and considers all the people involved. Christ was extremely patient with His disciples and with those who were spiritually slow learners (Luke 24:35). He is still patient, not wanting anyone to perish (2 Peter 3: 9). Are we patient with those who are slow to believe in Him? Mature Christian love is consistently slow to lose patience. It takes a long time before you smoke and burst into flames.
Love is kind (1 Cor 13: 4b)
Love seeks a way to be useful and shows kindness to others. Look for the best in others, and overcome selfish attitudes and behaviors. When we are kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, we are being like God in Christ who has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32, 2 Tim 2:24, Gal 6: 1).
Love has no envy (1 Cor 13: 4c)
Love is never envious and does not lose control over jealousy. Love demonstrates an attitude of satisfaction with what God has planned for the individual. Overcome envy and jealousy (1 Cor 10: 23-24, 2 Cor 12: 19-21).
Love accepts others (1 Cor 13: 4d)
Love is not boastful, arrogant, presumptuous, nor does it seek vainglory. He is not haughty and is not eager to impress. Love is an attitude of acceptance of other people, gifts, abilities, talents, and even their weaknesses. He is not arrogant and does not boast. He does not snort in himself by raising exaggerated pride (1 Cor 4: 6; 8: 1, Rom 14:19; 15: 1-2, Col. 3: 8-10).
Love does not do anything wrong (1 Cor 13: 5a.)
"He does not act improperly", indecently or in a shameful way. He does not act rudely, but he chooses the correct word and expresses it in the right way at the right time. This does not do the scheme and the game "I'm better than you." He does not develop an intense critical attitude and acts improperly towards others who do not live up to his standards (Ephesians 4: 29-32). It does nothing that can cause one to blush.
Love is disinterested (1 Cor 13: 5b).
The love of God is not selfish and does not look for numbers one (Ephesians 4: 17-20). He does not seek his own rights and is never interested. It does not pursue selfish ends. "The Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28).
Love forgives (1 Cor 13: 5c)
There is nothing more refreshing for the soul than having a sense of being forgiven by God and by others. Love does not rush to offend and seeks reconciliation. It does not account for the wrongs done by others (2 Cor 5:19, Rom 4: 8). The kind of love of God is to forgive. He does not hold grudges and "is never provoked," and "does not take into account a grievance suffered." Forgiveness is the model for us perfectly in the love of Christ (Luke 23:34, 1 Peter 4: 8, Mat 18: 21-22, 11: 27-30). He never got offended easily, was not irritable or resentful. Jesus does not store resentment and I do not bring any evil towards others.
Love edifies (1 Cor 13: 6a).
Love builds on other people and makes them look good. Love finds no pleasure in the pursuit of evil in others. It builds and says that you are important in the Kingdom of God. "Do not rejoice in injustice." He rejoices when he sees the justice of God triumph. It never rejoices when it is done badly. This was the example of Jesus in John 8: 1-11; John 4, etc.
Love rejoices in the truth (1 Cor 13: 6b)
The kind of love of God gives others the freedom to speak the truth (Ephesians 4: 25-27). Love always rejoices when the truth triumphs.
Love protects (1 Cor 13: 7a)
Love protects by believing the best in others. The kind of love of God covers a multitude of sins and covers, protects, and protects people because of wounds in life. He is always eager to seek the best in others. It "supports all things" like the covering of a roof (1 Cor 9:12). Love lifts the burden under anything and everything that comes.
Love trusts God in all circumstances (1 Cor 13: 7b)
Love believes in God and his sovereignty in everything and under all circumstances. He exercises faith in everything, and there is nothing he can not face. It causes the Christian to give others the advantage of doubt, and demonstrates his trust in God. Love "considers all things, expects things, endures all things," since it points to all the sovereign wisdom of God. Prophecies, languages, knowledge all have their purpose and will be abolished in time. But "love never fails" (1 Cor 13: 8).
How does God produce this kind of love in the Christian? It begins with trust in Him and His grace of salvation. All He needs is the willingness to make yourself available to Him. Allow him to settle and let him become available in your heart. Just as you feel at home in Him, He reproduces His love within you, then you change your attitudes, your actions and your behaviors.
Do you want to love with this kind of love? This is what you need, your family needs, and those with whom you relate daily.
This kind of love never fades and everything supports it.
