Love - { A Summer Blog Series on 1 Corinthians 13} - Part 1

I Corinthians 13: 1,4 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity [love], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. Charity [love] suffereth long, and is kind; charity [love] envieth not; charity [love] vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.

*waves* Hello people, and welcome to the first blog post in the blog series on 1 Corinthians 13. Yes, this should have been up on Saturday, but we were having technical difficulties with our computer. Thankfully they've been resolved, so here I am! 

I've divided the chapter up into six different sections, and each week we'll cover a different section. The first three weeks include one of the first three verses, as well as one of the middle ones. If that doesn't make sense, look up there ^ at the ones we're covering today and hopefully that will help explain it. ;) The reason being is because the first three verses talk about what we are without love, and the next four talk about what God defines love as. 

Also, I'm using the King James version of the bible. As many of you probably know, it translates the word love as charity. So keep that in mind. Without further ado, let's get started!

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Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity [love], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 

The Matthew Henry commentary defines this as having the ability to speak in mulitple languages with eloquence. And while I'm quite aware that there are other views out there, this is what I personally believe it means. In chapter 12, Paul is dealing with divisions in the church, and many of them stem from the chaos in the church from speaking in tongues. Many of the people in the church in Corinth were claiming to do so, but having no translator, there was no way anyone could understand what was being said. 

(Just a quick side note, when I refer to speaking in tongues, I refer to the supernatural ability to speak in a known language that you previously did not know.) 

Here Paul is saying that if you have the ability to speak every language of man and angels with eloquence and beauty, but you don't have love, you have nothing. Without a love for the people you are ministering to, and a heart to reach them for Christ, we're nothing. Even if maybe we can speak a native language so beautifully that it makes others stand in awe. To God, that language, spoken without love, sounds like clanging brass. Ever heard a little kid grab some drumsticks and pound on a drum  without having any idea what they were doing?

That's how we sound to our heavenly Father when we try and speak to people about Him without love. 

Charity [love] suffereth long, and is kind; charity [love] envieth not; charity [love] vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.

Love, the true love that comes from Christ, has the ability to do things that we as human beings cannot do on our own. 

Charity Suffereth long. Have you ever had to forgive someone who didn't ask for it? Have you ever had a misunderstanding or been hurt by someone? I know I have. Love takes these and refuses to hold onto them with bitterness or resentment. It forgives without reservation. It takes the forgiveness we have in Christ and extends it to others. Yes, it hurts. And I think I can speak for everyone when I say it's hard. We want people to feel how they made us feel. We want them to have to suffer for how they made us suffer. 

But love doesn't do that. It forgives and lets go. It takes the hurt and gives it to Christ. And in the end we realize, letting go frees us more then if we would have held on. 

Another definition of suffering long is being patient. It will wait. In difficult circumstances, it keeps on praying, even when there's no visible answer in sight. It is content that, in God's good time, the answer will come. Love keeps on waiting, even when that waiting hurts more than anything. 

Charity is Kind. It looks to do good to others. It has compassion. When it sees a need, it does its best to meet it. 

Charity envieth not. Have you ever had a time where someone else's prayer were answered before your own? Or maybe someone else got that position you so desperately wanted. Love will rejoice with those we care for when they are blessed. It doesn't get upset or frustrated and wonder, "Why not me?" Because it can trust that God's timing is right, and God's plans are perfect. 

Charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. Love isn't prideful. It doesn't force its agenda forward. It doesn't treat anyone as lower, but instead realizes that at the foot of the cross, we're all equal. And with Christ to help us and His love to fill us, we will prefer others above ourselves. We're human, and it can be so easy to look at others and look down on them for some reason or another. But love doesn't do that. It realizes that we, too, have our own shortcomings. And instead it looks to help those who are struggling. 

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Andddd... that's the end of this week's post. It ended up a bit longer then I had anticipated. ;) What are your thoughts on these two verses? Anything you agree/disagree with? I'd so love to hear your feedback!