LOVE

1 Cor. 13:1-8

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. Love is the greatest of the Christian virtues. Love encompasses
      all other virtues.
   B. The word "Charity," as used in KJV, has come to be more narrow
      in meaning than the word "love."
      1. It has come to mean "giving alms, benevolence, helping the
         needy."
      2. Charity might exist without love, but love cannot exist with
         charity.
   C. "Love" is the answer to a happy heart.

I. THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVE. (From the negative standpoint) 1
   Cor. 13:1-3
   A. Though one may speak all languages, without love, it is as
      worthless sounds.
   B. Though one has the gift of prophecy, speaking forth the mind   
      and counsel of God, yet without love, it is as nothing.
      1. There were many wicked prophets. Balaam said, "Let me die
         the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like     
         his." Num. 23:10 Yet, Peter said of him - 2 Pet. 2:15-16.
   C. One may have a brilliant mind, knowing all things, yet without
      love, it is as nothing.
      1. One will never exceed the wisdom of Solomon. 1 Kings
         4:29-34 Nevertheless, he failed in serving God. Deut.
         17:16-17; Neh. 13:26-27
   D. One may have all faith, the miraculous kind, yet without love, 
      it is as nothing. Matt. 17:20
   E. Though one gives away everything he owns, without love, it
      avails nothing.
      1. To give everything away and not have love may seem
         impossible, yet one may do it for notoriety, the praise of
         man, or some other reason.
      2. Charles Carawlt in his program, "On the Road" did a
         documentary on a man who gave everything away. Charles
         called him a saint. Yet, he was not a New Testament saint.
   F. Though one freely lays down his life for others, without love  
      it profits nothing.
      1. Some die in battle simply because they did what was
         expected of them as soldiers.
      2. They may not have understood the cause for which they
         were dying.
   G. Without love, all of those things are to no avail. They are
      worthless endeavors, like grasping after the wind; they profit
      nothing.

II. LOVE'S IMPORTANCE AS SEEN IN OTHER PASSAGES.
   A. When we love, God dwells in us. 1 John 4:16
   B. When we love one another, God dwells in us. 1 John 4:12
   C. The one who loves is born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7
   D. Love is the first and great commandment. Matt. 22:35-40
   E. Love is the greatest virtue. 1 Cor. 13:13
   F. Faith working through love is that which avails. Gal. 5:6
   G. Love is the end of the commandment. 1 Tim. 1:5
   H. Love is the bond of perfection. Col. 3:14
   I. We should have love above all things. 1 Pet. 4:8
   J. By love, others know that we are the Lord's disciples. John
      13:34-35
   K. The kingdom is promised to those who love God. James 1:12

III. CHARACTERISTICS OF LOVE. (The positive side of love).
   A. Love encompasses all of the Christian virtues.
      1. "Love suffers long" - longsuffering, patient, persevering.
         a. The one who loves is very patient with people.
         b. The one who loves will patiently aid, and wait for
            improvement in others.
      2. "Love is kind" - a gentle, considerate nature.
         a. If we love God, we must be kind to the children of God.  
            (1) If we sin against - 1 Cor. 8:12
            (2) If we persecute - Acts 9:4
            (3) If we aid - Matt. 25:34-40
      3. "Love does not envy" - no resentment over other's blessings.
         a. Parents are not envious of their children when they
            succeed.
         b. We need love not only in our families but in the church
            as well.
      4. "Love does not parade itself" - makes no display of itself, 
         not arrogant, or full of self-importance.
         a. The one who loves does not sound a trumpet. Matt. 6:2
         b. One who was full of pride said, "I'm the greatest, if you
            don't believe it, just ask me." Also, he said that he had
            made a mistake only once in his life. The mistake was
            that he thought he had made a mistake when he really
            hadn't. Thus, he thought he had made a mistake, but was
            mistaken, and according to him, that was the only
            mistake he had ever made.
      5. "Love is not puffed up" - not self-conceited, but humble.
         a. The one who loves does not have an overly inflated
            opinion of himself.
         b. Prov. 26:12 - The expression, "You can't tell him
            anything" is true of many people.
      6. "Love does not behave rudely" - courteous, polite; never
         rude or harsh.
         a. The one who has love is not hoggish, harsh, rude, or
            mean.
         b. Christians are never rude or rough with people. They
            are never mean and ugly with others.
      7. "Love does not seek its own" - unselfish, seeks the
         well-being of others.
         a. 1 Cor. 10:24,33; Phil. 2:4
      8. "Love is not easily provoked" - not easily angered, good
         tempered.
         a. Anger is not sin, but failing to control it is. Eph.     
            4:26; James 1:19-20
      9. "Love thinks no evil" - does not invent or surmise evil.
         a. Puts the best construction on the motives and actions of
            others. Gives the benefit of the doubt.
     10. "Love does not rejoice in iniquity" - never rejoices in
         lawlessness or evil.
         a. The wicked boast of things they ought to be ashamed
            of. Phil. 3:19
         b. We are not happy even when our enemies stumble and
            fall.
     11. "Love rejoices in the truth" - rejoices when the truth is
         upheld, when others walk in truth.
         a. 3 John 4
     12. "Love bears all things" - is not overcome by hardships or
         difficulties.
         a. Some couples divorce when great difficulties come.
         b. There was not much love, and then when severe
         hardships came, their marriage fell apart.
     13. "Love believes all things" - is not distrustful or          
         suspicious.
     14. "Love hopes all things" - looks for improvement, is
         optimistic.
     15. "Love endures all things" - endures hardships, sufferings,
         persecutions, etc.
     16. "Love never fails" - is always reliable, is eternal in      
         nature.

Concl.
   A. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line.
      1. The shortest route to any good is love.
   B. Love will crown us victors, if we nurture and develop it.
   C. There was an old saying in the restoration movement in this
      country similar to, "We speak where the Bible speaks and are
      silent where the Bible is silent."
      1. It was, "In matters of opinion, liberty; in matters of      
         faith, unity; and in all things, love."
   D. To make application of Paul's words on love, put your own name
      in the place of the word love.
   E. We show our love to God by obeying Him. John 14:15; 1 John
      5:3
      1. We show our love to God, by loving one another. 1 John
         4:20-21

Chart #1
THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVE

1. Though I may speak all languages, without love, it is as worthless
   sounds.
2. Though I speak forth the mind and counsel of God, without love, it
   is as nothing.
3. Though I might have a brilliant mind, knowing all things, without 
   love, it is as nothing.
4. Though I have all faith, the miraculous kind, without love, it is 
   as nothing.
5. Though I give everything away, without love, it avails nothing.
6. Though I freely lay down my life for others, without love, it     
   profits nothing.

Chart #2
LOVE'S IMPORTANCE AS SEEN FROM OTHER PASSAGES

1.  When we love, God dwells in us. 1 John 4:16
2.  When we love one another, God dwells in us. 1 John 4:12
3.  The one who loves is born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7
4.  Love is the first and great commandment. Matt. 22:35-40
5.  Love is the greatest virtue. 1 Cor. 13:13
6.  Faith working through love is that which avails. Gal. 5:6
7.  Love is the end of the commandment. 1 Tim. 1:5
8.  Love is the bond of perfection. Col. 3:14
9.  We should have love above all things. 1 Pet. 4:8
10. By love, others know that we are the Lord's disciples. John      
    13:34-35
11. The kingdom is promised to those who love God. James 1:12

Chart #4
CHARACTERISTICS OF LOVE

1. "Love suffers long" - longsuffering, patient, persevering.
2. "Love is kind" - a gentle, considerate nature.
3. "Love does not envy" - no resentment over other's blessings.
4. "Love does not parade itself" - makes no display of itself, not   
   arrogant or full of self-importance.
5. "Love is not puffed up" - not self-conceited, but humble.
6. "Love does not behave rudely" - courteous, polite; never rude or  
   harsh.
7. "Love does not seek its own" - unselfish, seeks the well-being of 
   others.
8. "Love is not easily provoked" - not easily angered, good tempered.

Chart #4
CHARACTERISTICS OF LOVE Cont.

9.  "Love thinks no evil" - does not invent or surmise evil.
10. "Love does not rejoice in iniquity" - never rejoices in          
    lawlessness or evil.
11. "Love rejoices in the truth" - rejoices when the truth is upheld,
    when others walk in truth.
12. "Love bears all things" - is not overcome by hardships or        
    difficulties.
13. "Love believes all things" - is not distrustful or suspicious.
14. "Love hopes all things" - looks for improvement, is optimistic.
15. "Love endures all things" - endures hardships, sufferings,       
    persecutions, etc.
16. "Love never fails" - is always reliable, is eternal in nature.