1 Corinthians 13:8 Love never fails

As we close out this series on the comparative nature of agape love with our understanding and performance of love there is a contrast between agape love and the gifts. In chapter 12 Paul speaks about the better gifts and then announces a better way. Now at the conclusion of his listing of agape love attributes he draws us back to the gifts. Why?

Churches that focus on the gifts fail. They fail because love has to be the central character of this Christian life in order for any of it to work. Prophecy occurs because the prophet loves God not the gift. It is the same with any and all gifts, they exist because we love God and allow Him to be at the center of everything.

None of the gifts ever saved anyone. The love of God does. Grace and mercy flow from love. Forgiveness is meaningless without love. Grace churches often focus on tolerance, mercy, and forgiveness but they fail the lost if love isn’t at the center of all they do.

If you think that the character and quality of agape love is given to judge your performance, you miss the point of what Paul has been saying. That love abides in His believers and we cannot match it, produce it, duplicate it, or release it.

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Our part in this is cooperative, obedience of faith. (Romans 16:26) If we are to be found pleasing in His sight, it is by faith. (Hebrews 11:6) That faith is a gift from God. (1 Corinthians 12:9) It is given so that we may walk in it, to accomplish His will. (Psalms 101:6, Romans 4:12, 2 Corinthians 5:7)

1 Corinthians 13:7d love endures all things

One of the saddest things I’ve heard a brother say is “Why would God love me?” Agape love is an enduring love and we should never judge God’s love by our own ability to commit to love. All you have to do is look at marital statistics on divorce to understand why human love doesn’t endure.

I wise old man once told me the foundation for marriage is not love but rather commitment. That advice has lasted me well of 51 years of marriage to two women. My first wife died after 37 years of marriage that didn’t last because of love but rather commitment.

If we base our love purely on emotions, we are doomed to fail. Love has to be a choice not a warm fuzzy. Emotions change like the direction of the wind, first here, then there. Maybe that is why wedding vows are an oath, a commitment to do the loving thing.

Numbers 30:2 If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

This is OT but look what Jesus says about oaths!

Matthew 5:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:

Why? Because God will hold you to your oaths. Oaths are meant to be serious and wedding vows are meant to be taken seriously. Jesus said the only acceptable reason for divorce is adultry.

Does that mean God divorces us if we cheat on Him? No, we have not yet married, we are betrothed. As such we are treated as a daughter and God does not set aside daughters, He protects them zealously.