The Most Misused Chapter in the Bible

You hear it at weddings almost 80% of the time. 1 Corinthians 13 is one of the most often read and hear passages in the Bible. And because of that, it has lost the depth, dimension and impact on many who hear it from the pulpit of those who preach on it.

Let's get this straight. 1 Corinthians 13 is not lofty sentimentality or a soothing good luck speech to bride and groom. It is not a "how to be nice" passage. It is not a work of Shakespeare or beautiful poem in harmony with other forms of great literature.

1 Corinthians 13 is the very living breathing Word of God for our correction, instruction, training and reproof! It is here to equip us and bring us to the reality of all that God is in love so that we may grow in love.  God is love and love is serious business.

The Greek Word "agape" used in this chapter was not a common word for Greeks in this day. It was adopted into the Greek New Testament because all other words for love fell short of the love the Apostles came to know through Christ Jesus! When God shows off His love, we need a new word for it!

Let this chapter poke you and prod you. Let it do what the Holy Spirit intends it to do. To me, tonight as I read it, the words "it (love) is not irritable or resentful" lept off the pages and pierced into my heart. How often I get irritable with those closest to me! If I don't know you, you get the best version of me. But the closer you get, watch out! Here is where the love is lacking in my life.

I know what's wrong... I am letting my love be less than agape! I am letting my love be the reward for good behavior on the part of others... and I have lost sight of Christ's love for me! He doesn't love me because I make the grade, He loves me while I don't!

Look at the rest of the list... the big attribute missing for love? Here it is: Responsive. Love, according to God and for the Church is not responsive to the behavior of others. Love is too busy being what it is to worry about what others are doing to you. And that's the Love God had for us. Romans 5:8 "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

PRAYER
Father thank You for loving me! How precious is Your Love. How marvelous and pure. I stand amazed in the sight of what You've done for me. You are good to me.  Help me to love, to not be irritated and impatient. Help me to to grow in Love. Amen.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

God’s View of You

Sometimes I think we imagine that God is mostly disappointed with us. That He puts up with us and bears with us because He has to (after all He is love), but most of the time our glaring weaknesses weary Him and make His day miserable. Of course, this is the devil’s doing in our minds. The truth of scripture bears out that the world has to get staunch-raving evil before God is totally weary of us. And the stories in the Old Testament remind us with each passing character that God is patient, loving and kind to His very flawed inconsistent servants. Saul is a case study of this. His lineage will not hold the kingdom, that has already been stated from the mishap of offering the sacrifice instead of waiting for Samuel to arrive in 1 Samuel 13. His next great gaff will happen in the chapter to come in 1 Samuel 15 where his own kingship will be taken from him and the anointing placed on one soon to come. Yes, God will regret making Saul king and we’ll talk about that next. But for now...
Read more

The Stain of Slavery

One of the greatest pains in my heart over the history of the church is the fact that many "Bible-believing" Christians used the Bible to promote, continue, and enable slavery in America's past. It may have happened elsewhere, but I'm an American, and I know it happened here. Then, some repeatedly make the claim because of a tiny amount of verses where God informs Israel on how to take slaves, it means the Bible is a pro-slavery document. How absurd. The overarching narrative of the Bible is that God sets the slaves free. The second book testifies to this part of God's character.  Getting to Jeremiah's day, one of the reasons Israel's nation was handed over to exile was because they enslaved each other. This attitude was so engrained into the culture of Israel that they had a hard time giving up slavery even in the face of national catastrophe.  In Jeremiah 34, the king is promised that he will die in Babylon, but he will die in peace. Jeremiah 34:3–5 (ESV...
Read more

Leaders Who Later Fail

Remember Johanan from Jeremiah 41? The man who saved many others from the threats of the murderous coup? He seemed like a noble leader. But time reveals a lot.  Jeremiah 42:5–6 (ESV)  Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act according to all the word with which the LORD your God sends you to us. 6 Whether it is good or bad, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God to whom we are sending you, that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of the LORD our God.” These are the words of the presumptive leaders of Israel in the land while the nation is in exile. The previous chapter saw a hero arise to protect a few remaining survivors. His name was Johanan. On the surface, he seems like a good man, seeking the will of the Lord in his leadership position. Jeremiah returns with directives from the Lord: Jeremiah 42:10 (ESV) If you will remain in this land, then I will build you up and not pull you down; I will plant y...
Read more