1 Corinthians 13:4a
⁴ᵃ Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not;
TRANSCRIPT
Greetings, all of you, in the most blessed name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. On behalf of the churches here, I bring greetings to you. We have been praying for you, and we know that you have also been praying for us, and we want to thank you for that. And we want to thank you also for the constant support that we have been receiving.
This morning, I am privileged to have this opportunity to stand before you to speak God's Word to you. Last time, I spoke on the theme of Love, from 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. Today, I want to continue with it and let us open our Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 13.
1 Corinthians chapter 13 is known as the love chapter, the most beautiful chapter in the entire Bible on love. In this chapter, the Apostle Paul devoted thirteen verses to explain what it means to love. In our last sermon, we looked at the supremacy of love, how love ought to be supreme in the church. Today, we will be looking at the practical aspect of love, that is how love ought to be practiced among brothers and sisters in Christ.
So the title of my message this morning is "Love in Its Relation to Others." Let me read it to you, chapter 13, verse 4. Let me read to you, "Charity suffered long, and is kind; charity envieth not". May the Lord bless us in the reading and hearing of His Holy and Perfect Word. Let us bow our heads before the Lord, let us pray.
Almighty God, Thou who art our most gracious and most loving Father in Heaven, we thank thee for the privilege to be Thy children, and we thank thee for the privilege to worship Him and to serve you. All these are possible because of Thy love. Today, we want to understand what it means to love others, and help us, o Lord, to be attentive to Thy Word and to be able to grasp the depths of the truth of Thy Word. May Thy Holy Spirit speak to every one of us so that we can understand Thy Truth. We commit the rest of our time unto Thy hand, and we pray all these things in Jesus' name. Amen.
The nature of love, love in its relation to others. First of all, I want to quote from one writer, who explains the importance of love. He said, "The Greeks elevated what a man knew, that is, his intellect, and the Romans worshiped what a man can do, that is, his power. But Paul [described] what a man is – that is his character.” He continued, "The pinnacle of spiritual development is to love God with total being and to love one's neighbours as oneself.” Indeed this is true, the pinnacle of spiritual development, the highest point of spiritual development, is to love God with our total being and to love our neighbours as ourselves.
In this beautiful chapter, we have a very supreme explanation or description of what it means to love. You and I may be mature in our Christian faith. We have been Christians for many years, and we have studied God's Word for many years. We have heard many sermons. We have studied the Bible many times, and we have come to a certain degree of maturity in our spiritual life. Yet, it is still possible that we are lacking in this respect, that is, to love others as ourselves. And that is what is meant in verse 4, the first part of verse 4.
Earlier in my last sermon, I defined love in this manner: Love is not just feeling, though feeling is involved. But it's not just feeling. According to the Scripture, love is an unconditional, selfless, and self-sacrificial action, wishing and doing what is best for others regardless of who they are and expecting nothing in return, and all this in view of eternity. In other words, the biblical definition of love is to wish and do what is best for others in view of eternity. It's not just feeling. The feeling that we have, the emotion that we have, we just sit and do nothing. No, that is not biblical love. Biblical love is to wish and do what is best for others as far as we can. And the Apostle Paul used fifteen different words to explain what love means. And interestingly, these fifteen words are all verbs, explaining what love does, not so much of what love is, but what love does. Love does something. Love is doing something. So of those fifteen words, today we will be looking at just three words. That is, “Charity suffered long, and charity is kind, and charity envieth not”.
I. Love is Patient Towards Others
Let us begin with the first one. Love is patient. Let me put it this way: Love is patient with others. This is expressed in the first part of verse 4, "Charity suffereth long." The word "charity" should be understood as "love," so I will be using the word "love" instead of "charity." Love is patient with others.
The word "suffereth long" is important here. This word is used many times in the New Testament, and most of the time, it is used in relation to people, not to circumstances or events. Yes, there are times when the word "suffereth long" is used to refer to circumstances and events. For example, in James chapter 5 verse 7 and 8, we have the same word being used in reference to the patience we need to have as we wait for the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. But there are other places where the same word is used in reference to people. For example, Matthew 18:26-29, Luke 18:7, 1 Thessalonians 5:14, 2 Peter 3:9. In these verses the Bible uses the word “suffereth long” in reference to people. In other words, when the Bible says, "Love suffereth long," it is saying, "Love is suffering long towards people, not to circumstances or events." Now, what does the word "suffereth long" exactly mean? One church father by the name of Christosto, explained it this way: "It is a word which is used of the man who is wronged and who has it easily in his power to avenge himself but will never do it.” In other words, the word 'suffereth long' refers to the ability to bear, although we have the power and everything to do for revenge, we do not do that. That is the meaning of the word 'suffereth long.'
Love is patient, and patience never never retaliates, and that is what we are supposed to do to others. Let us examine ourselves. Do we have love? All of us today will claim that we do have love, but most specifically, let us examine ourselves. Do we suffer long when people around us, when people do something bad to us, and we have, in our ability and in our power, the ability to avenge ourselves? Do we do that?
One writer explained the ancient Greeks' thinking. In ancient Greek thinking, non-avenging patience was thought to be weakness. In other words, if you are not able to avenge for yourself, you are considered a weak person. Aristotle, for example, the Greek philosopher he taught that Greek virtue was the refusal to tolerate insult or injury and to strike back in retaliation for the slightest offense. That is how the ancient Greek people thought. That is their philosophy. But the Bible teaches us a totally different way.
Today, we see in verse 4 that love suffers long. Love bears. Love is patient with others. People may wrong us. People may speak evil about us. People may accuse us wrongly. And we have the power to do something similar to them. Yet, we do not do that. And that is love. Let me give one example of how love is patient and suffereth long. There was a man called Robert Ingersoll who was an atheist. Being an atheist, he would give lectures upon atheism. During his lectures, he would stop and say something like this: "I will give God five minutes to strike me dead for the things I have said." He said something about the non-existence of God. Then, after a pause, he would continue to lecture, using his being still alive as proof of his atheistic belief. So, that is how he tried to prove the non-existence of God. But Theodore Parker, refuted that kind of thinking, that kind of argument. He said, "Did the gentleman think he could exhaust the patience of the eternal God in five minutes?" That was patience. In other words, God is our best example when it comes to bearing with others.
Have you ever given serious thought about the patience of God, how He has been so patient with us? Look at yourself. Let us look at ourselves. How bad we are. Many times we have offended God in our thoughts, and in our speech, and in our actions. Let me give you an example. Try to take a book and a pen. Try to list down every sin that you have committed against God. I'm sure very soon the book will be filled. Yet, God has been so patient with us. He's been bearing with us all the time. Therefore, in 2 Peter chapter 3 verse 9, we read these beautiful words: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." The reason why we are saved at all, and probably this is more obvious to some people than others, from the human point of view, because from the human point of view, some are more wicked than others. The reason why we can be saved at all is because of God's patient love. His love is patient. If not, none of us would have even existed today. God is infinitely patient. God is eternally patient. That is why we can be what we are today, and we are supposed to reflect that kind of patience with others.
Is it natural? Not at all. To bear with others when we are wronged by them, when we are falsely accused, when we are evil spoken of, it is truly challenging, and it is natural to take revenge on them. Yet, as Christians, as children of God, we must bear with them. We must be patient with them. Let me give this beautiful anecdote from the life of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States of America. During his presidential campaign and even earlier, one of his political enemies was Edwin Stanton, and this person used all kinds of unkind words to insult Mr. Lincoln. For example, he said something like this: "A low cunning gorilla, the original gorilla." He would say, "It was ridiculous for people to go to Africa to see a gorilla when they could find one easily in Springfield," referring to the place where Lincoln lived. But amazingly, Abraham Lincoln never replied. So, when he became the president of the United States, Lincoln chose Stanton, that person, to be the Secretary of War, and many people asked why. He simply replied, "Because he is the best man." At the bed of the president, Stanton looked into the coffin and said in tears, "There lies the greatest ruler of men the world has ever seen." And that is patience.
In this world, the world is wicked, and the world is filled with wicked people. Even in the church, we are not perfect. Although we are saved, although we are born again. Yet, the human nature is still there. We are still flesh and blood. So, many times, we will be taken advantage of. We will be wronged by others. What do we do in those times? Let us remember this beautiful verse: "Love suffereth long." Love bears with others. Love is patient. And in Galatians 5:22, the Apostle Paul wrote that “patience" or “longsuffering" – the same word – is one of the fruits of the Spirit. In other words, what if we manifest in our life longsuffering, then the fruit of the Spirit is obviously seen in our life. And that will surely glorify God.
II. Love is Kind Towards Others
Now, let us move on to the second point: “Love is kind.” The word "kind" is used eight times in the New Testament, and the King James Version translated it in various ways. For example, sometimes it translated it as "better," "good," "goodness," "gracious," and so on. Now, what does this exactly mean? It means to be useful to others, to be gracious to others, to be kind to others. Remember, we are talking about love in relation to others. That means how we ought to express our Christian love to others around us, whether they are Christians or not. So, briefly stated, the words "love is kind" means to be kind to others, so much so that we will be doing something good to them regardless of who and what they are. They may be Christians, they may be non-Christians. They may be alcoholics. They may be our fellow students. Or they may be our fellow workers. Whoever they are, whatever they are, their background, we do something good for them, and that is the meaning of being kind.
And let me read to you some portions from God's Word that explain the meaning of kindness. Ephesians 4:32, Paul says, "And be ye kind” – the same word – “one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." “Be ye kind one to another.” That is, Christians in the church must be kind to one another, and it is followed by this word, "tenderhearted" and “forgiving one another.” Again, in Romans 2:4, we read this: "Or despiseth thou the riches of his goodness,” – and the word goodness here is the same word here with kindness – “his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness” – same word – “of God leadeth thee to repentance?" In other words, according to this verse, God's goodness, that is God’s kindness, and God's longsuffering are the basis for our repentance, because God has been so patient with us, because God has been so good with us, He has been waiting for us for our repentance. Then we have the privilege to repent from our sins. In other words, God has been so patient with us and so loving, so good, and so kind to us that He has given us many, many privileges to repent. The reason why He is so longsuffering is not because He wants us to do more and more sins, but He wants to give us a chance and opportunity to repent from all our sins. That is God's goodness, that is God's kindness, and that is God's patience. So the Apostle Paul combined the two thoughts together in Romans 2:4.
Let me give some illustration from the life of the great preacher John Wesley. That great preacher, a man of God, had this rule of life. He said, "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can." And that is the meaning of being kind to others. At one point of his ministry, John Wesley visited a place where he was supposed to preach. As he ascended the pulpit, there was a child sitting on the steps directly in his way. Instead of asking why is the child allowed to sit there, he gently took the little child in his arms, kissed her, and then placed her back on the same spot where she had been sitting. And that is kindness. That is the meaning of kindness.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, are we kind enough to others? Are you kind enough to your brothers and sisters in Christ? To be kind is to do something good for them. So let us try to apply this important aspect of love in our church.
III. Love Does Not Envy Others
Thirdly, let us move on: “Love Envieth Not”. In other words, love does not envy others. And the word "envy" is a common word in the Bible, and interestingly, this can have two meanings – positively and negatively. It can have a positive meaning as well as a negative meaning.
Positively, for example, the Apostle Paul used it in the same epistle chapter 13 verse 32. If you have your Bible, 1 Corinthians chapter 12, quickly turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 12 and verse 32. Sorry verse 31, "But covet earnestly the best gifts." The word "covet" here is the same word translated here as "envy". In chapter 12 verse 31 the Apostle Paul used it in a positive sense. In other words we are to envy the best of spiritual gifts. That is a good thing. And in 2 Corinthians chapter 11 verse 2, the Apostle Paul wrote, "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy." Godly jealousy, the word "jealousy" is the same word here translated as envy. There's such a thing as godly jealousy. "For I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ."
But there's another sense, there is a bad sense in which the Bible used the same word. For example, in Acts chapter 7, verse 9, we read, "The brothers of Joseph were moved with envy." That is not good jealousy, that's not good envy. Okay, that is bad envy, a bad sense. And we all know the story – they sold him to Egypt.
Now, the Apostle Paul says “Love envieth not” – love does not envy others. He used it in a bad sense. Alright? He doesn't use it in a good sense. Jealousy, envy, brothers and sisters. This is one of the things we will be battling against until we enter heaven. The reason is simply because there is always someone better than us. Even if you do very well in what you do, probably in your studies, in your work, or whatever it is, there will always be someone better than you. That's where the challenge comes. We are tempted to envy others, not in a good sense but in a bad sense. And there is one sense which is bad enough by which we envy others very often. And this type of envy, this type of jealousy says, "I want what that person has. I want the things that person has – probably the car he has, the toys he has, and the computer he has, the ability, the intellect he has I want that too.” And that is one kind of envy. And another kind of envy is even worse because it says, "I wish they didn't have it." You envy others so much so that you wish they don't have it, and that is jealousy, that is envy, and that is very, very bad.
But the sad truth is that, brothers and sisters, there will always be people who are better than us. So, this challenge and this temptation will always be there. Therefore, we need to remember these words from the Apostle: "Love does not envy others." Whenever you are tempted to envy your brothers and sisters in Christ or even others, please remember this verse. As Christians, we are not supposed to envy others. Is it natural? Not at all. In my previous sermon as well as this sermon at the beginning I mentioned love is not natural to us. When I say love I’m talking about biblical love and the word the Apostle Paul uses “agape”, we are all familiar with it. Agape love, biblical love, is not something natural with us. By nature, we are corrupt, we are depraved, totally and completely. So, the natural thing for us is to envy others, to be jealous of others when others do better. It is precisely at this point that we need to live out this biblical truth: I am a child of God, I am loved by God and I am supposed to love others and love doesn’t permit me to envy others. So let us try to remember this important aspect of love.
Now let me give you one example from which we can learn how not to envy others. There were two famous preachers in England, one was F.B. Meyer and the other was G. Campbell Morgan. Let me read this story to you: "It was easy to pray for the success of G. Campbell Morgan," wrote F.B. Meyer when he was in America. "But when he came back to England and took a church near to mine, it was something different. The old Adam in me was inclined to jealousy. But I caught my heel upon his head, and whether I felt right toward my friend, I determined to act right. My church gave a special reception for him, and I acknowledged that if it was not necessary for me to preach Sunday evenings, I would dearly love to go and hear him myself. Well, that made me feel right toward him. But just see how the dear Lord helped me out of my difficulty. There was Charles Spurgeon preaching wonderfully on the other side of me. He and Mr. Morgan were so popular and drew such crowds that our church caught the overflow, and we had all we could accommodate.” To not envy others is something we need to learn with the help of the Spirit. This man of God, F.B. Meyer, is so present with Him, he was tempted over and over again. Yet, with the help of the Holy Spirit, he overcame the temptation.
Dear friends, brothers and sisters, this temptation will be always there, and we have the same challenge. Let us remember this word from the Apostle Paul: Love does not envy others. In conclusion, agape love is not something natural to us. People who are not born again do not have it, and people who are born again by God's grace, we do have it, but it is imperfect. So, we need to cultivate it, and develop it, and practice it with the help of the Holy Spirit. First of all, love in relation to others. Love suffers long. Love is very patient with others. Although others may speak evil against us, although others may have wronged us, yet love is bearing with them. It never retaliates. It never takes vengeance. And love is kind to others, meaning love is good to others. Actively, it does something good to others. And finally, love does not envy others.
If we have this agape love in our church, how wonderful will be the atmosphere and environment of our church. Dear brothers and sisters, I would like to encourage all of us to examine ourselves seriously before God. And many times, we do fail to live up to God's Word. But here is the challenge: since we are God's children, it is our duty, it's our responsibility. Though it is not natural with us to love others as ourselves, this involves suffering long with them, and it involves doing something good to them. And it also involves not envying others, whatever they have, whatever they do, whatever they can, their ability, their capability, all the things they possess, the talents they have. We are not to envy them. God has given us our own, something that we have that others don't have. And there's no need for us to envy others. In 1 John chapter 4 verse 8 and verse 16, God describes Himself this way: “God is love.” Two times, the Bible says “God is love.” That is how God wants to be known. Of course, God is a God of truth, a God of holiness, and there are many descriptions, but two times repeated that, God is love. He wants to be known as a loving God. And is it not important for us to be known as a loving church, a church where we dearly and truly love one another, where we truly care for one another? If that really takes place in our church, our church will surely attract others to come to the Lord Jesus Christ. So, this is one way how we can witness the Lord Jesus Christ. May the Lord help each and every one of us.
Let us pray. Father in heaven, we thank Thee for Thy Word. We thank Thee for this beautiful description of love, what love does. Love suffers long, love is kind to us, and love doesn’t envy others. And we know that, Lord, there are many times we fail to live this out, and we pray for Thy forgiveness, and we pray for strength to be given to us so that we can manifest this love to people around us, in our families, in our workplace, in our school, and in our church. More importantly, help us, o Lord, to be doers of Thy word, so that our lives can bring praise, honour and glory to you. We thank Thee for Thy word. May Thou please bless each and every one of us today in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thank you very much. The Lord bless all of you.
SERMON OUTLINE
THE BOOK OF 1 CORINTHIANSCalled to Be SaintsCalled to Be Saints1 Corinthians 1:1-3
The Blessings of Being a SaintThe Blessings of Being a Saint1 Corinthians 1:4-9
Divisiveness Calls for Strong ActionDivisiveness Calls for Strong Action1 Corinthians 1:10-17
The Foolishness of God is Wiser Than MenThe Foolishness of God is Wiser Than Men1 Corinthians 1:18-25
Let Us Glory in the LordLet Us Glory in the Lord1 Corinthians 1:26-31
The Wisdom of GodThe Wisdom of God1 Corinthians 2:6-16
The Natural Man and The Spiritual ManThe Natural Man and The Spiritual Man1 Corinthians 2:10-16
Are Ye Not Carnal?Are Ye Not Carnal?1 Corinthians 3:1-3
Glorify God, Not MenGlorify God, Not Men1 Corinthians 3:4-9
A Biblical View of the MinistryA Biblical View of the Ministry1 Corinthians 3:10-17
A Biblical View of the MinistryA Biblical View of the Ministry1 Corinthians 4:1-2
Whose Evaluation Really Matters?Whose Evaluation Really Matters?1 Corinthians 4:3-5
Beware of PrideBeware of Pride1 Corinthians 4:6-8
Beware of Spiritual ImmaturityBeware of Spiritual Immaturity1 Corinthians 4:9-13
Marks of a Spiritual FatherMarks of a Spiritual Father1 Corinthians 4:14-15
Be Ye Followers of MeBe Ye Followers of Me1 Corinthians 4:16-21
Dealing with Sin in the ChurchDealing with Sin in the Church1 Corinthians 5:1-6
A Little Leaven Leaveneth the Whole LumpA Little Leaven Leaveneth the Whole Lump1 Corinthians 5:6-13
Can Believers Sue One Another?Can Believers Sue One Another?1 Corinthians 6:1-8
Such Were Some of YouSuch Were Some of You1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Not All Things Are ProfitableNot All Things Are Profitable1 Corinthians 6:12-14
The Temple of the Holy SpiritThe Temple of the Holy Spirit1 Corinthians 6:15-20
Singleness or MarriageSingleness or Marriage1 Corinthians 7:1-7
Divorce and RemarriageDivorce and Remarriage1 Corinthians 7:10-16
Be Faithful to Your CallingBe Faithful to Your Calling1 Corinthians 7:17-24
Should I Remain Single?Should I Remain Single?1 Corinthians 7:25-31
An Undivided Devotion to the LordAn Undivided Devotion to the Lord1 Corinthians 7:32-40
Knowledge is Not EnoughKnowledge is Not Enough1 Corinthians 8:1-3
Love and Christian LibertyLove and Christian Liberty1 Corinthians 8:7-13
Are You Willing to Give Up Your Rights?Are You Willing to Give Up Your Rights?1 Corinthians 9:1-14
All Things to All MenAll Things to All Men1 Corinthians 9:15-23
How to Run the Race FaithfullyHow to Run the Race Faithfully1 Corinthians 9:24-27
The Danger Of OverconfidenceThe Danger Of Overconfidence1 Corinthians 10:1-12
Encouragement in Times of TemptationEncouragement in Times of Temptation1 Corinthians 10:13
Flee From IdolatryFlee From Idolatry1 Corinthians 10:14-22
All Things are Lawful, but All Things are Not ExpedientAll Things are Lawful, but All Things are Not Expedient1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1
Submitting to God's Order and Plan (Part 1)Submitting to God's Order and Plan (Part 1)1 Corinthians 11:2-16
Submitting to God's Order and Plan (Part 2)Submitting to God's Order and Plan (Part 2)1 Corinthians 11:2-16
The Significance of the Lord's SupperThe Significance of the Lord's Supper1 Corinthians 11:17-34
This Do In Remembrance of MeThis Do In Remembrance of MeExodus 12:43-51, 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
A Right Understanding of Spiritual GiftsA Right Understanding of Spiritual Gifts1 Corinthians 12:1-3
Diversities of Gifts, Same SpiritDiversities of Gifts, Same Spirit1 Corinthians 12:4-11
Cessation or ContinuationCessation or Continuation1 Corinthians 12:8-12
Unity In DiversityUnity In Diversity1 Corinthians 12:12-26
Desiring the Best GiftsDesiring the Best Gifts1 Corinthians 12:27-31
The Supremacy of LoveThe Supremacy of Love1 Corinthians 13:1-3
What Has Love Got to Do?What Has Love Got to Do?1 Corinthians 13:1-3
The Nature of Love (Part 1): Love In Its Relation To OthersThe Nature of Love (Part 1): Love In Its Relation To Others1 Corinthians 13:4a
The Nature Of Love: Love In Its Relation To Self [Part 2]The Nature Of Love: Love In Its Relation To Self [Part 2]1 Corinthians 13:4b-5a
The Qualities of Love (Part 1)The Qualities of Love (Part 1)1 Corinthians 13:4-5
The Qualities of Love (Part 3)The Qualities of Love (Part 3)1 Corinthians 13:4-7
The Qualities of Love (Part 2)The Qualities of Love (Part 2)1 Corinthians 13:4-7
The Nature Of Love: Love In Its Relation To Sin And Truth [Part 3]The Nature Of Love: Love In Its Relation To Sin And Truth [Part 3]1 Corinthians 13:5b-6
The Permanence of LoveThe Permanence of Love1 Corinthians 13:8-13
Why We Do Not Speak In Tongue (Part 1)Why We Do Not Speak In Tongue (Part 1)1 Corinthians 14:1-5
Why We Do Not Speak In Tongue (Part 1)Why We Do Not Speak In Tongue (Part 1)1 Corinthians 14:6-19
The Need for MaturityThe Need for Maturity1 Corinthians 14:20-28
Let All Things Be Done Decently and In OrderLet All Things Be Done Decently and In Order1 Corinthians 14:29-40
What if the Resurrection is Not True?What if the Resurrection is Not True?1 Corinthians 15:12-19
The Certainty of the ResurrectionThe Certainty of the Resurrection1 Corinthians 15:20-28
Heavenly Or Earthly MindedHeavenly Or Earthly MindedPhilippians 3:20-21; 1 Corinthians 15:50-57
Victory Over DeathVictory Over Death1 Corinthians 15:50-57
Resurrection Sunday Service: O Death Where is Thy Sting?Resurrection Sunday Service: O Death Where is Thy Sting?1 Corinthians 15:51-58
Our Response to the ResurrectionOur Response to the Resurrection1 Corinthians 15:58
The Principles of GivingThe Principles of Giving1 Corinthians 16:1-4
Doing the Lord’s WorkDoing the Lord’s Work1 Corinthians 16:5-12
Stand Fast in the FaithStand Fast in the Faith1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Stand Fast in the FaithStand Fast in the Faith1 Corinthians 16:13-14
A Loving Affection for the BelieversA Loving Affection for the Believers1 Corinthians 16:15-24
