1 Corinthians 13:8a “Love
never fails.”
One of the best evangelical programs is the “Thru the
Bible” five-year systematic study of each book of the Bible, which started airing
on radio in 1967, founded by Pastor J. Vernon McGee. Continuing with the theme
of “love”, the TTB March article tells us that we do not need lessons on how to
love loveable people. It’s when you’re around not-so-loveable people that it
gets hard. The book of 1 Corinthians was written to those kinds of people. But,
to be fair to the young congregation, they lived in one of the most morally
corrupt cities in the first-century world. They had no generational role models
and everyone around them was out for themselves. Yet, it is surprising the
similarities between the church in Corinth and our own churches today. We could
use a lesson from the Apostle Paul on how to love.
McGee writes: What could possibly energize us more in expressing
our spiritual gifts than love? The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defines that word “love”
as: In a general sense to be pleased
with; to regard with affection, on account of some qualities which excite
pleasing sensations or desire of gratification. We love a friend, on account of
some qualities which give us pleasure in his society. We love a man who has
done us a favor; in which case, gratitude enters into the composition of our
affection. We love our parents and our children, on account of their connection
with us, and on account of many qualities which please us. We love to retire to
a cool shade in summer. We love a warm room in winter. we love to hear an
eloquent advocate. The Christian loves his Bible. In short, we love whatever
gives us pleasure and delight, whether animal or intellectual; and if our hearts are right, we love God
above all things, as the sum of all excellence and all the attributes which can
communicate happiness to intelligent beings. In other words, the Christian
loves God with the love of complacency in his attributes, the love of
benevolence towards the interest of his kingdom, and the love of gratitude for
favors received.
An
affection of the mind excited by beauty and worth of any kind, or by the
qualities of an object which communicate pleasure, sensual or intellectual. It
is opposed to hatred. Love between the sexes, is a compound affection,
consisting of esteem, benevolence, and animal desire. Love is excited by
pleasing qualities of any kind, as by kindness, benevolence, charity, and by
the qualities which render social intercourse agreeable. In the latter case,
love is ardent friendship, or a strong attachment springing from good will and
esteem, and the pleasure derived from the company, civilities and kindness of
others. Between certain natural relatives, love seems to be in some cases
instinctive. Such is the love of a mother for her child, which manifests itself
toward an infant, before any particular qualities in the child are unfolded.
This affection is apparently as strong in irrational animals as in human
beings.
We
speak of the love of amusements, the love of books, the love of money, and the
love of whatever contributes to our pleasure or supposed profit. The love of
God is the first duty of man, and this springs from just views of his
attributes or excellencies of character, which afford the highest delight to
the sanctified heart. Esteem and reverence constitute ingredients in this
affection, and a fear of offending him is its inseparable effect.
Let's continue Dr. McGee message on Spiritual Love in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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