The Fruit of the Spirit is Love
One definition of love describes it
as a deep, tender feeling of affection and care and concern for the well-being
of another, such as that arising from kinship or a sense of oneness. Just by
reading this definition alone, it’s obvious that most of us have the first part
right: the tender feeling of affection, but it’s the second part: the concern
for the well-being of another, that we fall short. In fact, this could be one
of the reasons why we can’t fathom God’s love for us: we haven’t allowed
ourselves to feel that concern for the well-being of others, so it feels like a
foreign concept. Conceding that yes, perhaps we care for our children or our
parents or our siblings this way, but do we care for everyone? And here’s an important question: Do we even love the
people in our own church? Jesus said in John 13:35 that this is how the world
would know that we were his disciples: by our great love for one another.
In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul expressed
some of the qualities of love. He went as far as to list all kinds of spiritual
gifts and natural talents, and willingness to sacrifice; stressing that none of
it was valid if he lacked love. The King James Version uses the word “charity”
for “love.” It is curious that the
translators of the New King Version decided to replace the word “charity,”
which implies action: generous activities or donations to aid the poor, ill, or
helpless, also a benevolent feeling, especially toward those in need or in
disfavor.
“Charity” is actually a stronger
word. It’s not just a way of feeling; it’s a way of showing.
1 John 3:17-18 says “But whoever
has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart
from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children let us not
love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”
1 Corinthians 13 “The Love Chapter”
- Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love (charity), I have become sounding brass or a clanging 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, but have not love (charity), I am nothing.
- And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned (so I may boast), but have not love (charity), it profits me nothing.
- Love (charity) suffers long and is kind; love (charity) does not envy; love (charity) does not parade itself, is not puffed up (arrogant).
- does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
- does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth;
- bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
- Love (charity) never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. …
13. And now abide
faith, hope, love (charity), these three; but the greatest of these is love
(charity).
The qualities of love, as
characterized in 1 Corinthians 13 are also reiterated throughout the rest of
scripture.
Verse 4 of 1 Corinthians 13 says,
“Love (charity) suffers long and is kind; love (charity) does not envy; love
(charity) does not parade itself, is not puffed up (arrogant).”
Galatians 5:26 says, “Let us not
become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. “
Romans 12:9-10 says, “Let love be
without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly
affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to
one another.”
I Corinthians 13:7 says love “bears
all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
Galatians 6:2 says “Bear one
another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
1 Corinthians 13:5 says love “does
not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil.”
1 Corinthians 10:24 says, “Let no
one seek his own, but each one the other’s well being.”
Jesus Himself was
the ultimate example of showing love, when He willingly laid down His life so
that we, by believing in Him, will be free from the penalty of sin and be reconciled to God. Ephesians 5:2 says, “And walk in love,
as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a
sacrifice to God…” Romans 5:10 says,
“…we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son...”
Before Jesus went
to the cross, He taught us how to love, amazingly He stressed that we weren’t
to only love those who loved us but to love everyone. He taught in Luke 6:32 “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that
to you? For even sinners love those who love them. “ He continued in verse 35,
“But love your enemies and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return…”
Some people just seem unlovable. They don’t show any kindness to anyone and
they discourage others from showing kindness to them, Yet, God commands all
throughout the Old and New Testaments that we are to love!
Leviticus 19:18 “…you shall love your
neighbor as yourself…”
Matthew 22:39 “…You shall love your
neighbor as yourself…”
Mark 12:31 “…You shall love your
neighbor as yourself…”
Romans 13: 9-10 “For the commandments,
“You shall not commit adultery,,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not bear
false witness,” You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment,
all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as
yourself.”
Galatians 5:14 “For the law is fulfilled
in one word, even in this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
James 2:8 “If you really fulfill the
royal law according to the Scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself,
you do well.”
The power to love has to come from
God Himself. There is no way we could accomplish this on our own!
