“What Love Really Looks Like!” #3
1 Corinthians 13
“Love
Doesn't Brag and Is Not Arrogant!” - vs 4
Love is Humble, lowly, meek, abased, modest, lowly,
unpretentious, and self effacing! The cultural definition of love is vague at best,
watered down, these days it's just a word used loosely, typically to
get an advantage or a desired outcome! As we're going through the thirteenth chapter of first Corinthians I want us to see what love actually looks like. In verse four the Word of God says that love doesn't brag and is not jealous! We're going to look at examples in scripture that represent this love in the specific(personal) context, the social context, and the spiritual context. First though, lets do a word study
on the two defining terms used in this text to describe what love is
NOT! Love doesn't brag
and is NOT arrogant!
- The greek work here for brag is perpereuomai
(per-per-yoo'-om-ahee) -
* It's defined:
1. to boast one's self-controlled
2. a self display, employing rhetorical embellishments
in extolling one's self excessively
Love doesn't advertise! Love looks at others not itself! The reality is that true love is not merely an emotion nor an action! It's an action carried out with pure motive, desiring the betterment of the other party even if it costs the one loving everything!This is the only time this specific word is used in
scripture -
- The greek word for arrogant is phusioo
(foo-see-o'-o) -
* It's Defined
in this context: 2. to inflate, blow up, to cause to
swell up a. to puff up, make proud b. to be puffed up, to bear one's self loftily, be proud or haughty.
This word is used seven times in the New Testament
with six of the seven coming from this epistle to the church at
Corinth.
1. It's used earlier in this epistle in chapter 4 as
Paul is trying to teach his fellow ministers to remain humble in
their calling for God calls and equips and the man has nothing to do
with it!
1 Corinthians 4:1-7King James Version (KJV)
1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and
stewards of the mysteries of God. 2Moreover
it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 3
But with me it is a very small thing that I should
be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own
self. 4 For
I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that
judgeth me is the Lord. 5Therefore
judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will
bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest
the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of
God. 6 And
these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and
to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of
men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed
up for one against another. 7
For who maketh thee to differ from another? and
what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive
it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
2 & 3. It's used again, twice consecutively, in the
latter part of chapter 4 concerning the attitudes of some in the
church.
1 Corinthians 4:18-19King James Version (KJV)
18 Now
some are puffed
up, as though I would not come to you. 19
But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will,
and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed
up, but the power.
4. Next it's used in chapter 5 describing the attitude
some have in reaction to the revelation that many in the Corinthian
church commit fornication.
1 Corinthians 5:1-5King James Version (KJV)
1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and
such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that
one should have his father's wife. 2
And ye are puffed
up, and have not rather mourned, that he that
hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3
For I verily, as absent in body, but present in
spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him
that hath so done this deed, 4
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are
gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus
Christ, 5
To deliver such an one unto Satan for the
destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of
the Lord Jesus.
5. Next in Paul's discourse in chapter 8 concerning
eating food offered to idols he speaks of knowledge and love and the
differing fruit they produce!
1 Corinthians 8:1-3King James Version (KJV)
1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have
knowledge. Knowledge puffeth
up, but charity edifieth. 2
And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he
knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 3
But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
6. Our Text - 1st Corinthians verse 4
7. Lastly it's used in Colossians 2 as Paul speaks of
someone, who being puffed up, is trying to beguile the believer.
Colossians 2:18King James Version (KJV)
18 Let
no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and
worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not
seen, vainly puffed
up by his fleshly mind,
True love isn't self confident! Real love isn't puffed up or inflated, it's deflated, given
out, exerted!
So
What does this love look like?
1.) Specifically
* Person to Person Relationships, spouses, friends,
siblings, etc. *
- John the Baptist towards Christ! -
John 3:30King James Version (KJV)
John 1:26-27King James Version (KJV)
26 John
answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one
among you, whom ye know not;
27 He
it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's
latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
John 1:36-37King James Version (KJV)
John was the moon of the relationship, always
reflecting the SON! He knew it wasn't about him! He wasn't the star of the show! Real love always knows it's place, working in the background! Never the spectacle, always pointing to the Christ! Is the love you give and produce about your
reputation, your ego, your self esteem, your conscience? Or is it
about the one whom you are loving?
2.) Socially
* Individual to Society, to Individuals with which we
don't have a “personal” bond. *
A great testimony to this love is captured in the life of Moses, the humble servant leader of Israel! Throughout the pentateuch we see Moses clothed in humility, the writer of Hebrews even speaks of his humility in direct correlation to his faith!
Hebrews 11:23-27King James Version (KJV)
23 By
faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents,
because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of
the king's commandment.
25 Choosing
rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the
pleasures of sin for a season;
26
Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches
than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence
of the reward.
27 By
faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he
endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
The old saying
goes, “Most
people can bear adversity. But if you wish to know what a man really
is, give him power.” In Numbers
27 Moses is presented with a case of determining inheritance, he
depended not on his own understanding but sought the Lord. Even after
40 years of leading the children of Israel he looked unto God. Moses
did not jealously guard his authority. He rejoiced when Jehovah
allowed other Israelites to act as prophets alongside him. (Numbers
11:24-29)
When his father-in-law suggested that he delegate some of his
workload, Moses humbly applied the suggestion. (Exodus
18:13-24)
And toward the end of his life, although still physically strong,
Moses asked Jehovah to appoint a successor for him. When Jehovah
selected Joshua, Moses wholeheartedly supported the younger man,
urging the people to follow Joshua’s lead into the Promised Land.
(Numbers
27:15-18;Deuteronomy
31:3-6;34:7)
To be sure, Moses counted it a privilege to lead the Israelites in
worship. But he did not put his authority ahead of the welfare of
others. Humble Leaders are Servant Leaders! -
3.) Spiritually
* God to Man and Man to God! *
- Spiritually is the most important as it's correct
position will produce the first two! -
- Man to God -
There are many who could be looked at here but let's
focus on two. First Isaiah and his relationship with God, especially
in His presence!
Isaiah 6:1-5King James Version (KJV)
1 In the
year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne,
high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
2 Above
it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered
his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did
fly.
3 And
one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of
hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
4 And
the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the
house was filled with smoke.
5 Then
said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean
lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine
eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.
Secondly, David! His Psalms Speak VOLUMES!
Psalm 8King James Version (KJV)
1
O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who
hast set thy glory above the heavens. 2
Out
of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength
because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the
avenger. 3
When
I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the
stars, which thou hast ordained; 4
What
is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou
visitest him? 5
For
thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned
him with glory and honour. 6
Thou
madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast
put all things under his feet: 7
All
sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; 8
The
fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth
through the paths of the seas. 9
O
Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
Psalm 51:1-12King James Version (KJV)
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness:
according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my
transgressions. 2
Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse
me from my sin. 3
For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is
ever before me. 4
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done
this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou
speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 5
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my
mother conceive me. 6
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts:
and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 7
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash
me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8
Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones
which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9
Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine
iniquities. 10
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a
right spirit within me. 11
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not
thy holy spirit from me. 12
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and
uphold me with thy free spirit.
- God to Man -
The greatest picture of course is the incarnate
Christ! God manifest in the flesh! The God of all the universe, the
same God that created life, the earth, and the fullness thereof, hung
the stars, sparked the sun, held the oceans in his hand, that God in
all of his glory left the splendors of Heaven to don flesh because HE
LOVED YOU! He gave himself completely! He came not to be served but to serve!
2 Corinthians 8:9King James Version (KJV)
9
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye
through his poverty might be rich.
John 13:5-16King James Version (KJV)
5 After
that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples'
feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6
Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto
him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7
Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou
knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8
Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my
feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with
me. 9 Simon
Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and
my head. 10
Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not
save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but
not all. 11
For he knew who should betray him; therefore said
he, Ye are not all clean. 12
So after he had washed their feet, and had taken
his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what
I have done to you? 13
Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so
I am. 14 If
I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to
wash one another's feet. 15
For I have given you an example, that ye should do
as I have done to you. 16
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not
greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that
sent him.
Then he went even further! Lowering
himself to the lowest possible pit! He became sin who knew no sin, Bearing
our iniquity, our reproach, our pain, our curse on the cross of
Calvary!
2 Corinthians 5:21King James Version (KJV)
21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no
sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Galatians 3:13King James Version (KJV)
13 Christ
hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for
us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Romans 5:8King James Version (KJV)
** WHAT A LOVE **
We must take these pictures of a patient love &
put them into action and produce them in our own personal lives. Specifically, Socially, & Spiritually! What is the focus of our love? Do we perform our love to exalt the
one whom we are loving or to exalt ourselves and to feed our
spiritual ego? Love doesn't broadcast! Love isn't
showy!
Matthew 6:3King James Version (KJV)
The Excellence of Love
1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.
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