The Preeminence of Love
Hey sis! We know it’s been a WHILE!!! But we are going to pick back up with our studies!! So this morning we studied how important love is!!
In 1 Corinthians 13, the Bible talks about charity.
Charity has a Greek translation of agape (meaning love). This love is demonstrated through the death of Jesus Christ, when he gave himself for us. In spite of everything, He chose love.
1 Corinthians 13: 1-3
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 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.
These verses describe how meaningless our actions are if they are not rooted in love. It is the foundation to everything.
In verse 1, where Paul mentions the “sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal” he is describing an instrument that produces a hollow empty sound that echoes habitually.
Think about that. Hollow and empty...and the sound it makes is annoying?? It’s a no for us, sis.
Verses 4- 8
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
These verses describe the attributes and evidence of what charity looks like. Go through each and examine yourself. If you find that you are not rooted in love in some areas (we all have areas where we need to grow), ask God to help you grow.
Back to Agape...
We decided to cross reference love.
1 John 4:16
“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”
Ya’ll, this really tied everything together for us!! Charity means love. God is love. So, if God is not at the root of everything we do! It means NOTHING!!!
Remember that in everything charity should come first. No matter your actions, your faith, your stature, accomplishments, title….We are nothing without Love, and our deeds are nothing if not in love.
Be blessed with love,
-SOS