“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11)
The Basket Case Chronicles #155
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up” (1 Cor. 13:4).
We have come to a famous and very exalted passage, the apostle Paul’s paean to love. Given the nature of the case, and the nature of our particular shortfalls, it would be a shame to rush through it.
A common preacher’s trick is to have everyone substitute their own name for the word love here, and then to ask searchingly how everyone measures up. The answer of course is no one, and we are all suitably chastened and abashed, and crawl home like a dog that’s been beat too much. But that response is not fitting, not even on its own terms. The passage does not end with Charity is furtive, and guilty; charity does not know where to look.
We are Christians, and we follow Christ, and He is the one who has liberated us. So we should begin by substituting the name of the Lord Jesus here. It fits perfectly, and it is consistent with good news. Because He is like this, we are not consumed.
Love is longsuffering. It does not rush to judgment as soon as it sees the logical conclusion. Love is therefore frequently imposed upon. Love gives it another go. Love appears to have people taking advantage.
Love is kind. Kindness is thoughtful, tender. Kindness is considerate. Kindness anticipates.
Love is free of the sidelong glance. Love is not envious, which means that love knows how to rejoice when God’s kindness and blessing is visited upon another. Love rejoices in inequality. Love throws no elbows, and love is not constantly jockeying for position.
Love does not push to the front. Love does not exalt itself. Love does not grab hold of the bicycle pump of various carnal achievements in order to inflate its own name (1Cor. 8:1). Love does not fluff out its feathers.
Yes, Jesus is definitely all these things that are mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13. But it seems clear to me that, in the context of this chapter, Paul is talking about us, not Jesus, and I think it is unhelpful to dismiss it as just a “preacher’s trick”. Just before He mentions the qualities of love, he is basically saying “If I (Paul) do these things but don’t love, I fall short.” And it is clear from the context that he IS challenging everyone to put their names in his place and look at their own lives. And yes, it… Read more »
Arguing about love defeats the point of it. I have been in those churches where the disconnect between what is said and felt is as wide as the Grand Canyon. While it is hard to articulate what is wrong, there is nothing hard or difficult with the easy smiles and joy that a loving , Godly, environment brings. In one place where ‘love’ is proclaimed, nobody is smiling; in another, everybody is smiling and love is the norm. I gravitate to the latter and no exhortation or ‘spiritual’ remonstrance will change that. God IS kind. There is a very real… Read more »
Mr. Watchman, I think that the post is very helpful. It does not end, (in the manner which Mr. Watchman suggests) by leaving the disciple in a position of inadequacy, because although that is what we are, importantly that is not all that we are. Many sermons stop at that point with the constant reminder of failure, or alternatively with saccharine sentimentality. I was encouraged by the content: those in Christ now have all things, and so walk (as specifically illustrated by Pastor Wilson) according to what we are and have. In Christ is the essence of what I read.… Read more »
Don’t cringe, but do repent.