True Love Defined! - 1 Corinthians 13

 13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

As Paul teaches on spiritual gifts, chapter 13 is right in the middle of chapters 12 and 14.  Without chapter 13 you can't interpret chapters 12 and 14 correctly. Alan Redpath said one could get a spiritual suntan from the warmth of this chapter.

One of the issues in the Corinthian church was their was spiritual pride. They lifted up the more charismatic gifts above others.  Paul specifically uses the example of speaking tongues.  Though speaking in tongues was a great gift, if it led to pride it was only a noisy gong and a clanging symbol.  

As you can see sometimes this gift was operating in the language of men, sometimes in the language of angels.  Speaking in tongues in the language of men could be referring to Pentecost when the apostles spoke in various tongues and languages. All the people gathered from all parts of the world could hear the gospel in their own languages.  But more commonly speaking in tongues is speaking in a language only understood by God.  

Regarding the latter use of tongues Guzik says,

"But the way tongues is used here shows it can, and usually does, refer to a supernatural language by which a believer communicates to God."

Most importantly unless the person exercises the gift of tongues, prophecy or faith with love, it is meaningless. There is nothing gained.  No fruit.  

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

In 80-90% of the weddings I have presided at, I use these verses for message I give at the service.  Why?  Simply because it is the best definition of what love is, I have ever seen.  If you want to know how loving you are simply insert your name in every time it says love.  Mike is loving.  Jane is kind.  Jim is patient. Notice these aren't "feeling" words but character qualities that are developed with consistent and intentional exercise. 

These adjectives are a high bar for us.  Only Jesus could always demonstrate these in every interaction he had with people on the earth.  The word for love used here is "agape".  It is love that is shown through a conscious action based on a willingness to put someone else's interests above your own.  It is the type of love Jesus demonstrated when he went to the cross and died for us.   

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

The great promise which you can go to the bank with is "love never fails".  You may say, "I see love failing all the time!"  But most likely you are talking about human love.  "Agape" or "godly" love is a choice. It comes from the power of the Holy Spirit working inside of you.  When you choose to love someone it can never fail, even when someone won't receive it or rejects it.  God certainly knows what that feels like.  

Finally, though gifts like prophesy build up people in the church, we will only be fully complete when Jesus returns.  On earth we grow from a child-like faith into a mature faith, but we still only see partially what we will be like when we meet Jesus face to face.  The word for "completeness" comes from the Greek word "telos", which is also translated which also is translated "perfect".  It is why we often say the goal for every Christian once they are saved is to grow to Christlike maturity.  We also call this "discipleship" or learning to become more like Jesus. Colossians 1:28 uses "telos" in this way, 

"He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ."

As you look at the attributes of true love in this passage, where do you need to grow in character? What part do you think God plays and what part do you play in this growth to become more truly loving?  Where do you need to claim the promise today "love never fails"?  Take some time to thinking about God's unfailing and steadfast love for you in situations where you find people hard to love? 

"We can love because God first loved us! 1 John 4:19