In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 we read,
“Charity [love] suffereth long, and is kind; charity [love] envieth not; charity [love] vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”
The Apostle Paul wrote this passage [through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit] to the church of Corinth to emphasize the “nature and work” of high, holy, spiritual love – for they [the Corinthian brethren] were not regarding one another through Christ-like love. In fact, Paul prefaced these verses by exposing their “true nature” in that their “actions” (though in “appearance” may have seemed Christ-like) were not exemplary of Christ’s love – but exemplified their own “self-edification”. In other words, their deeds did not rest in the “nature and work” of spiritual love – for they were draped in “self-centeredness”. Paul prefaced the above text with 1 Corinthians 13:1-3,
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity [love], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 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, and have not charity [love], I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity [love], it profiteth me nothing.”
In like manner, many today follow this same path. On the surface, their “works for Christ” may outwardly appear to be derived from a “heart of love” – yet in time their “works” are exposed as being derived from a “heart of self”. God’s Word has a way of exposing the true nature, motives, and intents of our heart. For, Hebrews 4:12 states,
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
In 1 John 4:7-11 we are exhorted,
“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.”
1 John 3:18-21 further declares,
“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.”
Our prayer should be that all of our “actions” are borne from the “nature and work” of high, holy, spiritual love – and that they are not borne from our natural fleshly corruption of “self-centeredness”. May we each test our actions against the following verses – to be assured that we are truly serving the Lord through His Divine nature – and to be quick to confess our sins when we do not.
1 Peter 3:4,
“But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”
Colossians 3:23-24,
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”
1 Peter 4:8,
“And above all things have fervent charity [love] among yourselves: for charity [love] shall cover the multitude of sins.”
May all of our “actions” bear evidence of Christ’s perfect love – as we live accordingly through the two great commandments.
Luke 10:27,
“And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.”
As we enter in to this time of Thanksgiving, let us truly demonstrate hearts full of love unto the Lord through our charity [love] for our fellow man.
