Introduction: I have said that real love is a gift of God. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. The gifts and callings of God are without repentance. Love never fails; hence, it even accompanies us to Heaven. Before we get to Heaven though, we must live and work here on this earth. The love God gives to us is to be used, not abused nor neglected, here in this life.
- We are to love the brethren.
- We are to love one another.
- We are to love the Lord supremely.
- We are to love the lost compassionately.
- We find that God loves us unconditionally.
- We find that God loves the world purely.
- We find that God loves those who love Him.
- We find that God even loves those who hate Him.
According to 1 Corinthians 13, this Bible love is what we call "agape" love. This word speaks of a deep, abiding love that is unselfish and self-sacrificing. Agape love seeks to love without seeking to be loved. Agape love concentrates on the loved and not on the lover. This is the kind of love we are commanded to have, not only toward God, but for one another, "Follow after charity..."
So far, we have learned six characteristics of this agape love.
1. Real love gives worth to work.
2. Real love suffereth long.
3. Real love is kind.
4. Real love envieth not.
5. Real love vaunteth not itself.
6. Real love is not puffed up.
In this message, I want to look at the next two characteristics of this agape love. Please remember that agape love is the greatest of all the gifts.
7. Real love does not behave itself unseemly. - 1 Corinthians 13:5
"Doth not behave itself unseemly..."
- To behave unseemly, is to behave shamefully.
- The context of this verse is how we treat others. Many Christians do things that are shameful in private, but the context here is how we do things to other people.
- A Christian ought to know how to behave as a Christian. If he doesn't know how to behave, he needs to learn how to behave. Our behavior is all about how we act toward God and others.
- When David became king, he made a vow to God concerning his behavior in Psalm 101:1-2, "I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing. I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart."
- However, when David found himself under the threat of losing his life, he changed his behavior, "And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard." (1 Samuel 21:13)** How often God's people change their behavior when they become threatened for their faith!
- Paul advised Timothy how to behave as a pastor, "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach." (1 Timothy 3:2)
- Paul teaches Titus about the behaviour of women, "The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things." (Titus 2:3)
- Peter tells us about the behavior of Christians toward the unsaved, "Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." (1 Peter 2:12)
- Peter then tells us about the importance of a wife's behavior at home, "Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear." (1 Peter 3:1,2)
- Peter then speaks about behavior that should vex every Christian, "And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked." (2 Peter 2:7)
- As a child of God, do you behave shamefully?
8. Real love seeketh not her own. - 1 Corinthians 13:5
"Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own..."
- Again this is one of the cardinal laws of agape love. One, with agape love, is not self-seeking.
- Agape love, by its definition, is love that does not focus on itself by being self seeking. Remember, agape love is love that is unselfish and self-sacrificing. It seeks to love without being loved, and it concentrates on the loved and not upon itself as the lover.
- For a Christian to be self-seeking, is manifested proof that he does not have agape love.
- This Christian serves the Lord and others for what is in it for him. He has the "What's in it for me" mentality.
- A self-seeking church membership seeks members in order to pay its bills. When that same membership has agape love, it seeks the souls of men.
- A Christian, with this kind of agape love, sees others as people whom he can help. People are not used as resources for promotion and self-fulfillment.
- The Christian, with this kind of love, does not seek out friendship or associations for personal benefit.
- The Christian, with this kind of agape love, serves the Lord for what he can give to it rather than for what he can get from it.* He teaches for Jesus, not applause nor praise.
* He serves for Jesus, not for a pat on the back or even a "thank you."
* He gives his money, not for tax purposes or Heavenly reward, but because there is a need and because it is right to do.
* He does not do what he does because it is easy or convenient, but because there is a need.
* Perhaps the picture is clear. He does not seek what's in it for himself, rather, what's in it for others.
Conclusion: So, I ask again, are we practicing Bible love as believers? It is a fair question well-deserving of an honest answer.
- Real love gives worth to work.
- Real love changes your actions and attitudes toward others.
- Real love is kind.
- Real love envieth not.
- Real love is not boastful.
- Real love is not proud.
- Real love does not behave shamefully.
- Real love is not self-seeking.