Transcript for Message 1: The Preface - A Scriptural Perspective On Charity (1 Corinthians 13) by Merlin
Once again, a very good evening to one and all. And I praise and thank the Lord for this time that we can be in this place for the next four days for a time of refreshing in the study of God's Word. And I praise and thank the Lord for this opportunity and a great privilege to come and study God's Word together with all of you on this theme. But the greatest of these is charity. God willing, we shall consider seven messages which are taken mainly from 1 Corinthians 13 and other selected passages of the scripture. And so for tonight to begin with, let us take time to read the entire chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians and thereafter consider this very message, first message, a preface of a scriptural perspective on charity. And so if you are already having your Bibles open to 1 Corinthians 13, let us take time to read the entire chapter responsibly, reading the last verse together. I shall begin reading verse one. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. That not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil. Bear it all things, believe it all things, hope it all things, endure it all things. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child, but when I became a man, I put away childish things. Together in the last verse, and now abided faith, hope, charity, these three, but the greatest of these is charity. Let us look to the Lord in prayer. Our Father in heaven, how we praise and thank you for this wonderful occasion that now has granted young people of Bethel BP Church to come together for a spiritual retreat, for a time to be refreshed in the study of your word. Even so, as we seek to glorify your name in these four days of spiritual refreshing, thank you Lord for how you have guided the young people together with those who are overseeing the ministry in organizing and in the early stages of the planning, and at this time in implementation of all that has been set up and established that the young people can come together to feed in thy word and to fellowship one with another and more so to continue to be perfected in their faith. We thank you Lord for how you have led and provided this place for such an activity as this. It is indeed edifying and more so refreshing to each and everyone, even unto us, being part of this gathering. Tonight as we look into the very first message of this seventh part of study, we ask for thy mercy and for your grace to be upon us. Some of us may have gone through the entire day in service unto thee in labors and in sustaining us in bringing us to this place. We are thankful for it is by your grace and by your mercies that we are able to make it and come together in this manner before you. We ask for your mercy to be upon us, washes and cleanses from all our sins and from all our unrighteousness that each one of us be worthy to commune with you and to listen to the meditation of your word and learn spiritual truths therein for our instruction, for our edification, even so for our equipping. O Lord, hear our prayers and bless the gathering of your people, for we pray all this in Jesus' name. Amen. For tonight's message, looking at this chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians, I want us to look carefully at the very theme from which it was taken from the last part of verse 13 that it says, and now abided hope of faith, hope, charity, these three, but the greatest of these is charity. I want to begin tonight's message by saying that there are few chapters in the Bible that have suffered more misinterpretation and misapplication than this 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians. Yes, there are only few chapters in the Bible that indeed has suffered a lot of misinterpretation and misapplication in a sense that it is so often quoted for the purpose of quoting unsounding biblical, even sounding virtuous, particularly in the attempt to define love or charity. Chapter 15 or 13 of 1 Corinthians, if it is separated or drawn away from its context, it becomes an anthem of love or a sentimental or emotional passage that people would want to quote according to their... that people would want to quote according to their own preference. It becomes a sentimental or an emotional passage that many would want to put on display, having it framed or placed on desktops or hang on walls as a constant reminder of love. I don't know about your generation and your age, but back in our time, we often find verses from 1 Corinthians 15 or 13 quoted and printed on bookmarks, greeting cards, notebooks, some even wall frames with the entire chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians printed, if not a particular verse from this very famous chapter of love. But what many people fail to see is the background and context in which it was written. The very reason why it was written, that while they may sound or appear very romantic, very sentimental, but there is a need for us to be established, particularly on how we should understand the chapter. And you would come to realize that it is far from how people use it. Far from how people would quote it. If we would but establish ourselves in the background and the context. And as you can see, 1 Corinthians 13, the Apostle Paul was actually dealing with the problems in the Corinthian church, whose members were given to selfishness, given to pride and vainglory. We know very well of how the Corinthian church indeed has become so famous because of their quarreling, their bickerings, conflicts, competing with one another, especially in the use of their spiritual gifts. Yes, with their spiritual gifts, many were showing off for self-promotion and advancement, rather than using their spiritual gifts for the benefit of the entire body of Christ, the church. Most of them were engaged in competition and contention, especially on who has got the best gift, who has got the most excellent gift. And as you can see, with such an environment, you would suspect and even confirm and agree with me that too often they have envy and jealousy among them. For they have been showing off and competing with one another who among them indeed has the best gift. It is in this background that Paul wrote this chapter on love. In chapter 12, we read of Paul discussing about the various spiritual gifts, in which he stressed on the last verse. Repeat with me for a while at chapter 12 and verse 31, where Paul said, but covet earnestly the best gifts. In other words, he was trying to exhort everybody, yes, covet earnestly, go for the best gift. But he continues to say, and yet show I unto you a more excellent way. So while he was encouraging them to covet earnestly the best of the spiritual gifts, yet he is introducing unto them a new subject in which he introduced it in these words, yet show I unto you a more excellent way. So in the words of Paul here, he was actually telling the believers in Corinth, yes. While you are to earnestly seek after the best of the spiritual gifts, but let me tell you something that is more excellent than the best of all the spiritual gifts. And from there, he brings us to the subject about charity or love. It is like Paul saying, you may have the best gifts, but there is something more excellent than that. It was like Paul saying, yes, while you strive to covet earnestly the best gifts, let me show you the more excellent way. Paul then proceeds to write one chapter on charity to bring to the attention of the church what ought to be their attitude in view of the gift of Moses. And for them to see for themselves the excellent way in utilizing their gifts, not for their own benefit, but for the benefit of the entire body. That is the church. But before we move on to deal with our text, I want to say that the New Testament word for love that is translated here as charity is that word agape. And I am glad that it is printed here in our pamphlet. It is being defined and with some verses in which it appears. Surely it will help us better understand the true essence and the meaning of love that we are going to study in the next four days. And as you can see in your booklet, that word translated charity is the word agape. It is unconditional love. The ultimate Christian virtue. In addition to what has been printed in the booklet. Let me add, it is the kind of love that seeks the highest good of the other person. Yes, we all know that it is love that best characterized the love of God. But in a practical sense, yes, it is a kind of love that seeks the highest good of the other person. Even at the price of one's comfort. that seeks the highest good of the other person even at the price of one's comfort safety and benefit okay I say it again it is a kind of love that seeks the highest good of the other person even at the price of one's own comfort safety and benefit we think of what John 3 16 printed in your Lord God sold out the word that he gave for the benefit and good of others at the price of one's comfort we love to sing thou didst live thy throne and I kingly crown the son of man the sons of man become sons of God that's a copy love that seeks the highest good of the other person when price one's comfort safety benefit it is about selfless not selfish love selfless not selfish love it is giving or giving of one's health that is more concerned with giving and receiving though the word was not admired used in Greek literature it is common in the New Testament especially in describing the love other than that word agape there are other great words that is often you translated into love there are those that refers to so easy and essential passionate love that is the kind of love that refer to that self-serving and pleasing and sensual and there is that another that refers to the affection and closeness as in brotherly love and there's another that pertains to love between and among family and this is more on the human side of charity and love we think of agape it is the kind of love that is defined and best described as the love of God the love and so as we look at your text with this understanding now it helps us better understand why the word agape in this chapter is translated as charity and not the usual and the generic word of some verses would translate it as love but in here it was translated as charity to emphasize that it's distinct and unique in character and nature whereas we think of charity it's more for seeking after the good of others and not of ourselves and as I have said it is the kind of love that takes the highest good of the other person even the price of one's comfort and so going through this message tonight with that introduction we shall endeavor to consider how charity or love is ultimate and greatest of all the virtues and look with me in verse 1 to verse 3 and notice how Paul emphasized on the excellence of charity notice with me how Paul emphasized on the excellence of charity earlier on he calls upon the believers in Corinth to covet earnestly for the best gift and yet he is saying at the last part of verse 31 of chapter 12 I show you and I show unto you a more excellent way and what is the excellent way charity he is emphasizing in here the excellence of charity over spiritual gifts and notice how he said it this way in verse 1 though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity I become a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal it's like Paul saying that even if I may possess the best of all the gifts yet apart and without love or charity he says I am become a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal it would be like a mere noise or a sound that you can create nothing more than that he is actually bringing to their attention helping them to realize that while you may have coveted after the best of gifts there is one thing more excellent than that gift and that is what charity this gift of tongues speaking or the ability to speak languages actual languages like that during the Pentecost where the Apostles were empowered enabled by the Holy Spirit to speak in different language of the people since then it has become the much coveted gift that believers have coveted after it has been considered as the much coveted gift and likewise the much abused gift and here the Apostle Paul is saying that even if you possess excellence not only in the language of men but even of angels but without charity it is nothing but just a mere noise like that of a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal now obviously the Apostle Paul here used some exaggeration that we call hyperbole to emphasize the point that even if I have the gift to speak even the language of angels the highest conceivable thought of the gift of tongue to be able to speak of heavenly language he said if I am able to do such but apart from charity I am nothing but a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal the point here is that no matter how eloquent and how impressive you may be No matter how eloquent and how impressive you may be in this particular ability of speaking in tongues, even of angels, it amounts to nothing but a mere noise that you've created. Paul goes on to bring to our attention not only how charity excels over tongue speaking, he also emphasize how charity excels over prophecy and faith. Come with me at verse two. He goes on to bring the point by saying, and though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all language, and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains and have not charity, look at the last part of verse two. I am nothing. Notice the gifts mentioned here. In addition to tongue speaking that he mentioned in verse one Paul here give us a short list of the much coveted spiritual gifts during his time. First on the list is the gift of prophecy. Next to speaking in tongues, the gift of prophecy is the most essential one as it brings God's truth, God's message to his people. Long before the scripture was completed, yes, God spoke to his people through prophets. That is what makes a prophecy as among the much coveted gift. Next to it, the understanding of mysteries and all knowledge. This refers to the ability and gift to interpret. This encompasses the gift of wisdom, of knowledge and discernment. And yet, if you do possess such gift, yet without love, Paul says here, I am nothing. Nothing. Now, turn with me for a while to Philippians chapter one. And I want us to observe carefully how the apostle Paul emphasize love or charity. Philippians chapter one, and look with me at verse nine. Philippians chapter one and verse nine. Here, Paul said, and this, I pray that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment. And yet, as Paul said, I am nothing. You can see in here the correlation that while you seek after such gifts as prophecy, understanding of mysteries and all knowledge, yet apart from love. Nothing. Very much like how Paul here express his desire, even prayer for the church in Philippi, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment. Somehow, it tells us indeed that all these spiritual gifts would amount to nothing if done and exercised apart from love. Coming down to verse three, look with me at how Paul emphasize the excellence of charity over giving and sacrifice. Verse three, and though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned and have not charity, look at the last part of verse three. It profited me nothing. Now, two things Paul here mentioned. On the manner and in the area of giving and in the area of sacrifice. It is a gift, the ability to give, even to give your life. But if all this are done apart from love, look at what Paul declared at the last part of verse three. It profited me nothing. Obviously, your gift of giving would profit those people whom you extend charity. Would profit and benefit those people to whom you share or give, whether it be material resources or whatever. It would profit others. But Paul made it clear in the last part, it profited me nothing. And somehow, Paul here emphasizes that one point and that is the excellence of charity. That indeed, it excels over all the spiritual gifts, even the gift of giving and that of sacrifice. What the Apostle Paul is trying to tell us here is, even if we do works that are excellent, even if we do works that are impressive, even if we are able to accomplish great and mighty things, they ultimately amount to nothing. And so Paul is actually saying that spiritual gifts without love is nothing. That's the main emphasis of verse one. Possessing such spiritual gifts without love, I am nothing, verse two. Performing such spiritual gifts without love, it profited me nothing. Nothing. See the emptiness and nothingness in our service and labors in the ministry if done without charity. Moving on, let's consider the essence of charity. Earlier on, we've looked at the excellence of charity that is love. Now, moving down to verse four to verse seven, let us consider the essence of charity. After highlighting to us the matchless value and excellence of charity or love, Paul in verse four to verse seven gave us a clear description of love. In fact, in these verses, he gave us a short list of qualities. There are 15 of them. And the 15 that characterize authentic and biblical love, the kind of love that must be cultivated within the body of believers in the household of faith. And looking closely at this portion of chapter 13, you would notice how the apostle Paul defines love Looking closely at this portion of Chapter 13, you would notice how the Apostle Paul defines love by describing it. Yes, one common practice of the Apostle Paul is to describe something or by defining something by describing or describing something by defining. And in here, notice how Paul defines love by firstly describing what it is. But by describing what it is like, look with me in the first half of verse 4, charity suffered long and is kind. He defines love by describing what it is. And according to this part of verse 4, Paul here is saying, love is patient, love is kind. I am sure you have come across such quotations, either printed or posted, whatever. But it is so common, a verse and often quoted, but for a different purpose or reason. But here, yes, Paul defines love by describing what it is. And according to verse 4, charity suffered long, that means love is patient. And charity suffered long and is kind, that means love is kind. So he defines love by describing what it is. Then he continue in verse 4 to define love by describing what it is not, by describing what love is not. Now look with me and the remaining portion of verse 4, charity suffered long and is kind and then what? Charity envied not. So putting it in today's language, love does not envy. So he defines love by describing what it is not. Love does not envy. Charity envied not. Here begins the list of negatives, saying and describing what love is not. And the very first on the list is love does not envy. He goes on to say charity wanted not itself. Again in today's language, love does not boast. And that is one of the common problem among the Corinthian church. Because of the gift that they possess, they've been boasting one after another. They've been striving for superiority. They were striving for excellence. They have been competing and contending one with another. And that is why Paul, by the working and prompting of the Holy Spirit, the inspiration, spent one chapter to write on the more excellent way and that which is charity. Love does not envy. Love does not boast. Verse 4 continue, is not puffed up. Very much related to the previous phrase, but in here is not puffed up, refers to describing love is not proud. Again, a common problem among the Corinthian believers. Competing, striving for self-promotion and vain glory. Paul is writing to teach them. Let me show you the more excellent way. On how you should make good use of the gift that the Holy Spirit has blessed you with. Not for self-promotion and vain glory, but for the edification of the body of Christ. We move on to consider verse 5, where Paul said, that not behave itself unseemly or unbecomingly. In today's language, it means love is not rude. And it goes on to say in verse 5, that not behave unseemly, seeketh not her own. Again, a common problem among the Corinthian believers. And you know, as we speak and deal with our text in its context, let me remind you that this character and attitude is also common in many churches today. Some are in the service in different areas of the ministry of the church. Just to prove something. More on promoting oneself or trying to impress. And Paul is teaching us tonight by showing us the more excellent way. And what is the excellent way? Charity. Don't be proud. Don't be a show off. Don't be puffed up. Yes, while we are more familiar with the verse, whatever you do, whether you eat or drink, do all for the glory of God. And one of the best ways of doing things for the glory of God is to do it out of charity. Love is not self-seeking, not her own. Verse 5 continues, is not easily provoked. Meaning not easily angered. Oftentimes, what we see in the work of the ministry is when there is indeed pride and vainglory and self-promotion, there can be that incident where one can be so easily provoked. But Paul here is telling us the more excellent way, which is charity, is this. Charity is not easily provoked. Earlier on, we've looked at what love is. Love is patient. Love is kind. Next, still in verse 5, does not behave itself unseemly, seek it not her own, is not easily provoked. Think it no evil. This pertains to sinful or evil intent towards others, malicious intent towards others. And oftentimes, when there is competition, when there is contention, not far behind is that evil intent. that evil intent. Still on Paul describing what love is not, come with me to verse 6. Where Paul here said, Rejoice it not in iniquity, rejoice it not in iniquity, but rejoice it in truth. Yes. Something that we must understand. Agape or charity does not rejoice in any form of evil. Does not condone, does not conform, and even at the very early stage, does not compromise. But it rejoices in the truth. Paul thus far defines love by describing what it is. And it goes on, he goes on by describing what it is not. Now come with me to verse 7 and see for ourselves how Paul defines love by what it can accomplish. What it can accomplish. First on the list in verse 7 is here. Bear it all things. A while ago we thought about love is patient, love is kind. Yes. In here he goes on to describe charity as bearing all things. He goes on to say, believe it all things. Of course, this refers to the truth. Bear it all things, believe it all things, referring to faith. Then the third still in verse 7, hope it all things. If you cultivate the more excellent way of putting on charity in all that you do, this is what it can accomplish in you. Remember in verse 1, 2, 3, it is nothing, I am nothing, it profited me nothing apart from charity. But with charity, this is what charity can and will accomplish in you. Bear it all things, believe it all things and hope it all things. Then lastly, verse 7, the last part, endure it all things. You know, to people at your age, when you come across such verses, especially if it is written by somebody of the opposite gender, and writing about all this kind of love and affection, surely you'll be moved in your heart, wow, how nice, wow, how romantic, wow, how sentimental. But I hope after learning tonight's message, wow, that is all about spiritual gifts. Don't be impressed, and for young people, never use this verse in such a way, because it has nothing to do about all those things. It is more about the building up and edification of the body of Christ. For imagine in this group, what good would it bring to the church if all of you are endowed with the best gift, the play of music, violin, piano, but you cannot create music and harmony because you are striving with one another. Like for example, this morning we had the church choir sang, wow, very nice. Praise God. Now, what if for a moment all of you, one can play the trumpet, one can play the saxophone, one can play the piano, one can play the violin, but there's no harmony among you because you just want to excel in that what you do. You can't create even a simple music. All you can create is what? Noise. Apart from charity, apart from love. Sometimes we may have differences, personality, attitude, character, behaviors, whatever. But look at what charity can accomplish in the midst of diversities of gifts, in the midst of diversities of attitudes, in the midst of different personalities. Love will accomplish what? You are unable to bear all things. You're unable to believe all things. You're unable to hope all things and endure at all things. That is how charity indeed, as Paul said, is a more excellent way, more excellent than possessing the best of all the gifts. Completing chapter 13 for tonight, as a preface to this entire series of messages, I want us to consider, we have looked at the excellence of charity, we have looked at the essence of charity. Now we move on to consider the third, the endurance of charity. Now we are given the cue already from the last part of verse 7, endure at all things, coming down to verse 8 onwards. Look with me at the endurance of charity compared to the spiritual gifts. Remember, they have been striving on excellence on matters of spiritual gifts, but Paul here is putting spiritual gifts in its rightful place. And what is its rightful place? It is actually inferior compared to charity, because it cannot endure, unlike charity that will endure forever. Now look with me in verse 8. Charity never failed. But what about gifts? Paul make it very clear in first part of verse 8. Charity never failed. Now what about the gifts? Look on, whether there be prophecies, they shall fail. Whether there be tongues, they shall cease. Whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. So Paul is reminding the believers in Corinth, even to us, don't go for all this in such a way that you become self-centered, self-focused, striving for vainglory and pride. For after all, these are temporary. for after all these are temporary. They shall be done away. Look at the three phrases that Paul used. They shall fail, they shall cease, it shall vanish away. Referring to the what? The spiritual gifts. The very reason why there seem to be discord and disharmony within the body of believers. It's like Paul telling them, it's not worth it. Think of the more excellent way. And that is what? Charity. Why charity? Because charity or love never fails. And what about gifts? Spiritual gifts shall be done away. As you can see in verse eight up until verse 10. Look at how Paul said in verse nine, for we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. The Corinthian church had fallen into the trap of believing that spiritual gifts were the indication of the fact that they have fully and truly arrived. They had probably begun to consider saying one to another, we have made it. Unto perfection. Paul is telling them here, no, you're not done yet. You are not perfected yet. Especially so if you strive for spiritual gifts. Paul says here, when perfection comes, these things that you equate with perfection are to be done away. The things that you are using as touchstones or yardsticks to measure up your spiritual maturity or spiritual totality actually is vain. For just when you capitalize and invest much, even to compete and contend with one another, who's got the best gift? Paul is telling them straight at their face that these gifts in which you are striving, they will not endure. For they are but temporary. And Paul here is telling them that gifts, yes, they are for temporary and for a moment and they are imperfect. Where there are prophecies, they shall fail. Where there are tongues, they shall cease. Where there is knowledge, it will pass away. And Paul made it clear in verse nine, for we know in part and we prophesy in part. Then look at verse 10. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. Somehow it tells us that the Corinthian church here have somewhat find themselves confused about perfection and maturity. But Paul went on to illustrate in verse 11 and 12, when I was a child, I speak as a child, I understand as a child, I thought as a child, but when I become a man, I put away childish things. Meaning when I mature, when I grow up and mature, I put away childish things. Paul here illustrates the truth of maturity like that of little ones, little children. As little children, our speaking, our manner of talking, our thinking and our reasoning are immature. Though at that point of time, we have the kind of confidence that yes, we know all things, only to realize as you get older and older year after year, and you look back, you can only say to yourself, oh yeah. It is but part of our childhood, of our immaturity. When we look back at that point of time of our life, when we have grown up, we reflect and realize on the ignorance and of how naive we were to think and talk about kind of perfection, of maturity, as if we know all things. However, back in that particular point of time, we were not aware of our immaturity. We used to think that we know all things. We know everything that we need to know. Not until sometime later that you look back, you can just laugh at yourself when you come to realize, wow, how childish I was, how immature I was. It was only when you're grown up that you can see clearly how immature you are. And that is what Paul is trying to tell the Corinthian church. That's when you think that you have grown and fully matured in the faith, you are not. As to our spiritual understanding, Paul likens it to a person that looks on a mirror. As we read in verse 12, for now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face, now I know in part, but then I shall know even as also I am known. Even when we would achieve some level of maturity, it is far from perfection. While on one hand, we experience that kind of perfection in terms of maturity, but that does not confuse it with that ultimate perfection as like in sinless perfection. Now, like for example, in the book of James, the book of James in chapter one and verse four, if you can turn there quick, there James used the word perfect, but the way James used the word perfect there is not much about being perfect as in sinlessly perfect, but it refers to perfect as in a sense mature or in level of maturity. Now, James one verse four says, what let patience of her were perfect work that ye may be perfect. One thing, nothing. In the same way that it is used in the message we've considered this morning, the perfecting of the faith. We are yet to experience perfection in terms of absolutely free from the implications of sin, but in this life, we are to strive for maturity in a sense, perfection. strive for maturity in a sense, perfection. And this is where we really need to understand this. We strive towards maturity by cultivating charity. Paul here is pounding down the point that there is a more excellent way and that excellent way is charity. In fact, at the last verse of the chapter, Paul brings to us the three great virtues of the Christian faith and Christian life by saying, now abided faith, hope, charity. These three, but the greatest of these is charity. Paul here brings to our attention three cardinal virtues of Christian life, faith, hope, and charity. That instead of getting obsessed over spiritual gifts that will vanish away, we ought to be working and investing our time and energy in these three by nurturing our faith, building up our hope, and strengthening our love. And these benefit us as an entire body of Christ. And these benefit us not only in the present time, but throughout our lifetime and even for eternity. Whereas you continue to strive for spiritual gifts apart from charity, conflict, contention, competition, but if you go for the more excellent way, yes, they are beneficial not only to yourself, but for the entire body, not only in this present time, but even for all eternity. However, if you look closely at these three cardinal virtues, the objects of faith and hope would one day be fulfilled. When we all get to heaven, the object of faith and hope, we will see him face to face. And so the object of faith and hope will one day be fulfilled and be perfectly realized when we are all taken into glory. But what about love? The God-like virtue we will continue to have even for eternity. And so while faith and hope diminish and fade with the blessed face to face experience that we would have as we see the Lord, our love for him will remain and even grow with each passing moment for eternity. And that is why Paul, he said, now abided faith, hope, charity, these three, but the greatest of these is what? Charity. One day soon, faith and hope will be fulfilled. We know very well, Hebrews 11, verse one, faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. But one day soon, we shall meet God face to face. Done away. The hope that we look forward to that one day soon, we shall be with the Lord in heaven, as the day comes, done away. But while faith and hope be done away, for eternity, together with God, we will continue to have love. Our love for him will remain and even grow with each passing moment for eternity. Yes, when we all get to heaven, it will be the place for the expression of nothing but perfect love toward God and each other. With this as an introduction, we will deal more of this chapter by looking at other passages as well, as we continue to build our understanding on this theme, but the greatest of all is charity. Let us pray. Lord, we give the thanks for guiding and leading us through this very first message. Establishing for ourselves the right and proper understanding of this very popular passage of scripture, so popular that even the unbelieving world, the secular minds would even use it, oh Lord, for their purpose and for their intent. Though it is far from the real meaning and purpose of why this chapter of love indeed has been preserved, perfected in the scripture. And we are glad that you have given us this opportunity that we can look into this matter and have a clearer and sound understanding of how we ought to understand the message of love that is recorded therein. For the purpose of personal edification and for the building up of our faith, even so the strengthening of our bond with one another in the body of Christ. Oh Lord, thank you. We pray that thou would be with us as we prepare and look forward to the proceeding messages tomorrow and the following days. May you continue to grant us that hunger and thirst, even that decide to learn more from thee in the study of your word. And bless us as we carry on with the remaining activities for this evening. Even so, as we look forward to our sleep for the night, may you watch over us and grant us all a good night's rest, that our bodies, our minds be refreshed, be renewed as we rise up looking forward to yet another day in this camp. We thank you for how you have provided this wonderful place, a place for us, oh Lord, to come and gather together. We do remember the rest who will be joining us, oh Lord, tomorrow or the day after. May you be with them and continue to encourage their hearts to come and come soon that they be partakers together with us of the manifold spiritual blessings that we are expecting and anticipating to receive as we carry on with our series of studies and messages on this theme. All this we commit to you with thanksgiving. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.