Love Fulfills the Law

Proverbs 14:30  A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is rottenness to the bones.

Love is not ostentatious, a proud boaster; or a braggart. This word is used of one who sounds his own praises, toots his own horn. Love does not promote his own honor and interest. 

Love is not puffed up swelled with pride, and elated with a vain conceit of ourself, of our abilities, of any wisdom, or knowledge. (sense this all comes from the Lord)

Love does not behave itself unseemly; doth not behave himself towards any in an uncomely or in an improper manner, and will do nothing towards his brother, in a filthy or indecent action. Love avoids profane and indecent language, improper allusions, double meanings and inuendoes, coarse and vulgar expressions, because such things pain the soul, and offend the hearts of the pure and decent.

Men like to joke with one another by putting each other down. Ps Matt does not like this. It is not in accordance with the law of love. It used to be men would never talk a certain way in front of a woman or a child. Now the children are talking this way to everyone.

Love seeks not her own -Love is not selfish; it does not seek its own way.  True love to others, will prompt us to seek another’s welfare with self-denial, and personal sacrifice and toil, even at great personal sacrifice and self-denial.

I am reminded of Ps Ingolf’s story of the men who sold themselves into slavery in order to preach the gospel to the slaves. 

“it is this principle which is yet to convert the world. Long since the whole world would have been converted, had all Christians been under its influence. And when all Christians make it their grand object “not” to seek their own, but the good of others; when true love shall occupy its appropriate place in the heart of every professed child of God, then this world will be speedily converted to the Savior. Then there will be no lack of funds to spread Bibles and tracts; to sustain missionaries, or to establish churches; then there will be no lack of people who shall be willing to go to any part of the earth to preach the gospel; and then there will be no lack of prayer to implore the divine mercy on a ruined and perishing world.” (Barnes)

But the heart of men is selfish. Most are willing to do things that fit into their time/schedule; but outside of their calendar; they refuse. The lukewarm will do some, but not all. They will give some of their time, but not all. Some of their money, but not all. Some of themselves, but not all.

EX: in 2009, we rolled our van. I was in a pretty bad place mentally for a time. I drove over to someone who told me I was their closest friend. At this point, they had not called me, or checked in on me to see how I was doing. I asked them to just sit with me and pray with me for a time. But they said they made a coffee date with someone else and they left me to myself. What does this say about a friend?

Christ said, 

John 15:11-15  “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

We are very much His servants, selfless and sacrificing all; but at the same time called a friend because we know what He wants from us. Therefore we obey. A friend of God sacrifices all for His name and His glory. This means we sacrifice for the good of another.

Love is not easily provoked. Here it means to rouse to anger; to excite to indignation or wrath.  The meaning of the Greek is, that a man who is under the influence of love  is not “prone” to violent anger or exasperation; it is not his character to be hasty, excited, or passionate. He is patient. He looks soberly at things; and though he may be hurt, he governs his passions, restrains his temper, subdues his feelings. (most of the time are feelings are faulty)

Love thinks no evil – One translation says, “keeps no record of wrongs”. Love puts the best possible construction on the motives and the conduct of others. It means that love is not malicious, does not seek to find fault, or to impute improper motives to others. Love is not disposed to “think” that there was any evil intention even in cases where it might appear otherwise.  

Love rejoices not in iniquity – Does not rejoice over the sins of other people; does not take delight when they are guilty of crime, or when they fall into sin. It does not find pleasure in hearing others accused of sin. It does not find pleasure in the “report” that someone has done wrong; or in following up that report, and finding it to be true. “I knew it!”  It does not desire that an enemy, a persecutor, or a slanderer should do evil, or should disgrace and ruin himself. It does not rejoice, but grieves,  when a friend or foe has done anything wrong. It neither loves the wrong, nor the fact that it has been done. Love does not rejoice in any kind of sin  EX: Ravi Zacharias

Love rejoices in the truth – The word “truth” here stands opposed to “iniquity/sin,” and means virtue, piety, goodness.  Love rejoices when others “do righteousness.” It is pleased when those who differ from us conduct themselves in any manner in such a way as to please God. Love rejoices that good is done, and the truth defended and advanced, whoever may be the instrument.

 Love rejoice that others are successful in their plans of doing good; love rejoice that other people have a good reputation for righteousness, though they may differ from us in opinion, and may be connected with a different denomination. They do not rejoice when other denominations of Christians fall into error; or when their plans fail; or when they fall, or are afflicted, oppressed, and reviled.

I get no pleasure watching Christian denominations apostatize and fall away from the faith. I get no pleasure in watching pastors fall from grace. I weep. It stains Christianity and mars the church.

Even as I am writing this- I know I have missed the mark many times. Father forgive me.

But I have also gotten it right. In 20 years of ministry, the Lord has taught me how to be selfless by serving someone a long time with no thank you, no sign of gratefulness, and enduring mean spiritedness. I learned to not complain, but to serve with joy.  I have given generously to those who hated me and reviled me. I made myself a spectacle by chasing people down to pray for them, I have stood silently and patiently while people have torn myself, and my family down and publicly humiliated us for standing on the truth. I have sought peace with those who have hated me. I have learned compassion through suffering and genuine love through affliction. I learned to pity the lost and the sinner and the hateful because they are still blinded by the god of this world. THIS IS ONLY possible because I love Him with all my heart. I have a relationship with Jesus, so I can love like He loves. Otherwise, you will do it on your own strength and fail miserably. 

Bears all things.—love silently endures whatever it has to suffer.

Believes  all things. Takes the best views of all men and all circumstances. 

Hopes all things.  It takes positive and hopeful views of man, of the world, and of God. A hope that all will turn out well, even when others cease to hope

Endures all things. Whether the “seventy times seven” offences of a brother, or the false accusations and slander, or the sufferings and self- denials and persecutions of the life spent in doing good and giving glory to the Lord. Love endures all. 

This next portion of Scripture has been used to support that the gifts of the HS have ceased:

8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is [d]perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

The gifts have not in fact ceased. Explain the above- everything we do here and now is in part. We prophesy in part, we have wisdom and knowledge and healing in part. We will not need these gifts when the Lord sets up His kingdom. It is not a reference to the Bible being printed. That does not even make sense. OT Scripture is what they used and it had been around for hundreds of years before Jesus. We are in the dispensation of the church age. WE are still here therefore we still need the gifts. WE will not need the gifts in heaven. This whole chapter is about using our gifts with love for the brethren. WE just cannot understand fully– 

“When I was a child I understood as a child, I thought as a child; But when I became a man, I put away childish things.” The difference between our present and future conceptions of spiritual things may be illustrated by the knowledge of a child compared to that of a man. For in our present state, we are mere infants in knowledge, gifts and understanding, in comparison of what we shall be when we are with Him in His heavenly kingdom. 

 And now abide faith, hope and love. The “now” is a logical statement. It sums up the paragraph. These three graces are fundamental and permanent; not transient, like the charismatic gifts, on which the Corinthians were priding themselves. These are eternal. 

The greater of these is love. It is a high calling, but it is attainable. This is only through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is only through crucifying ourselves with Christ, and taking up our cross to follow Him. LOVE is the fulfillment of the law. There is no greater thing we can do then to love God with all our hearts, minds and souls (this is first and foremost, love flows to others from our love with God); and then love others like Jesus.