Suppose someone is a mighty evangelist and an outstanding Bible student. Suppose also that this person faithfully endures great trials, and then when opportunity arises he gives all of his savings to the poor. Finally he dies a martyr burned at the stake for confessing Christ. Suppose a person is all of this and does not have love! How does he stand in God’s sight? He is nothing! And his great works profit him nothing at all. These are the strong words of the Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
After reading this passage, our immediate reaction is what does he mean by love (“Charity”) ? What could possibly be so important? The apostle does not leave us guessing. In verses 4, 5, he defines this attribute as it relates to man and in verses 6, 7, as it relates to God.
Love, he explains, is kind and patient; it does not envy another; it is humble, is not boastful, is courteous, unselfish, not touchy, forgiving (Verses 4, 5). If we stop here and consider carefully what the apostle has listed, we realize that the qualities mentioned are not glamorous ones. They do not cry out for admiration as does martyrdom or great philanthropy.
But they are attributes that exhibit themselves in the small routine circumstances of everyday life. At home, at work in office or plant, shopping in a store, driving on the streets, learning in school, visiting among neighbors, all the situations of daily life, these are the times when one shows whether or not he has the attributes Paul lists.
In the course of family life, for instance, we face endless petty irritations which demand patience and kindness. We also find many times when what is required of us is unselfish consideration of the needs and desires of others (love seeketh not her own).
When talking with friends, we often have opportunity to boast of our own accomplishments. Yet love “vaunteth not itself”; rather it praises the other and minimizes itself.
At work in the stress and anxiety of schedules and competition when harsh words are easily uttered, love calls upon us to deal gently with others considering their feelings.
All of these are experiences which seem small in themselves, but put together make up the sum of what we are. To consistently seek the other’s well-being in such cases is Christian love.
And Christian love is not exhibited only to those who deserve it. It is patterned after the love of God, a love which reaches out to men while they are yet sinners (Rom. 5:8), a love which is “kind unto the unthankful and the evil” (Luke 6:35).
Therefore the attitude Paul calls “love” is displayed to all men whether they merit our kindness or not. In fact, it is even shown to those who hate us and are our enemies (Matt. 5:44).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One