1 Corinthians 13:5,6        Message 13

We are continuing to learn God’s definition of charity (love) in order to enable us to look at our own lives and know whether our thoughts and actions are what the Lord wants us to be and to do.  The Holy Spirit has given the Apostle Paul the words that explain what love is and the Lord Jesus Christ has given us the example of how love acts. 

We are thankful that we are able to understand these characteristics through the actions of the Lord, bringing to life before us the Words that are written. 

The Lord is kind, never seeking another’s hurt, but always desiring repentance and turning to God. 

The Lord is always worthy of respect and honour, but He is always humble and caring for others, never ashamed to sit and converse with any, no matter what their station in life. He always sought their good.  Remember the times He was patient with Peter, who most people would not be patient with.  He was compassionate, caring for the sick, the hungry, the desperate, and through His example we see in His life that no matter who the person is or what the subject is –

      c.  Charity (Love) always behaves in a righteous manner. 

1 Corinthians 13:5  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

Charity –

        1).  “Doth not behave itself unseemly…”

Behaving unseemly – unacceptable behaviour.  I ask you to think on this for a few moments and name in your minds some forms of unacceptable behaviour.  It is sad that it does not take us long to make this list.

Now, in your list did you include things like ‘being honest with others’, ‘telling the truth’, ‘correcting people when they are wrong’?

You see, behaving unseemly depends on who is judging the behaviour.

An excellent example of this behaviour is seen through the actions of Jesus challenging, then clearing the Temple of those who had changed it from a House of Prayer to a marketplace. 

John 2:13-18  And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

In another way of speaking, they were asking Jesus by what authority did He close down the market that was being operated in the Temple.

Jesus’ was accused of usurping the authority of the temple leaders, but they were informed that it was their behaviour toward God that was ‘unseemly’.  If they loved God, they would not have permitted  the Temple to be used for personal gain instead of a place of congregating for prayer and worship.  Jesus’ love for God was revealed by His actions.

Our behaviour is unseemly in the eyes of God when we keep quiet when we should speak, when we remain still when we should act.  If we love God, we should not just go along with those that do not love Him.

Would our behaviour seem to others to be wrong if, during a war, we enjoyed the company of the enemy more than that of those who love our God as we claim to love Him?

We need to examine our lives, measure ourselves by His Word!

We also learn that Charity –

        2).  “Seeketh not her own…”   Is not selfish. Refer to –

John 6:38  For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

When we are saved, putting our faith in God through His Son, Jesus, our love should be no longer be like that of the world – self-serving, but that of the Lord, seeking the good of others.  Notice the change in ‘being’ that should be shown to the world, the new love because of the new ‘Light’ that is in us.

Ephesians 4:28  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Being new creatures in Christ Jesus, we see that our love –

        3).  “Is not easily provoked…”  Responds in an ungodly manner –

          a).  When people were ungrateful –       

Mark 5:17-19  And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

The Lord commanded this man to return to those same people who asked Him to leave their community and share with the His love and their need of Him as Saviour!

        b).  When people were demanding –

Mark 6:30-34  And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. And they departed into a desert place by ship privately. And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him. And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

We can fully expect that the Lord had lessons prepared to share with the apostles following their ministry among the people and was going to have rest and discussion with them.  When the people converged upon their resting place, the Lord did not return to the ship and seek another place to rest, but He gave the apostles an assignment for the day and He turned to teaching the people.

Does love measure our response when people are ungrateful or demanding, or do we care for them with patience as the Lord did, and still does?

Charity –

        4).  Does not attribute evil to others.

Titus 1:15  Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

Charity –

      d.  Does not find pleasure in evil   

1 Corinthians 13:6  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

The world does not exhibit love and have –

        1).  Separated from the truth, even rejoicing in their choice –

Romans 1:21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Romans 1:22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

Romans 1:29-32  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

The Lord is, and we as His people should be, –

        2).  Separated unto truth.

1 Peter 2:21-23  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

Notice the judgment following the most careful and the most brutal examination of Jesus by man –

John 19:4  Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.

Pilate could find no fault in Him because there is no fault in Him.  He is sinless, not just having not sinned, but is absolutely holy and cannot sin –

John 14:30  Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

If we love God and love people with the love of God, we will determine to reject sin, finding no pleasure in it, but we should “rejoice in truth” knowing that charity (love) –

        3). Seeks man’s good.

John 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Will we love with God’s love.  If we will, we will live as the Lord lived

1 Peter 2:21-25  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

1 Corinthians 13:5,6  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

Do you behave yourself in a way that pleases and glorifies God?

Do we seek good for others?

Do we respond with love and care when people are ungrateful or demanding?

Are we separated from the truth or are we separated to the truth?

Are we seeking man’s good?

We have the examples of how to live through the Word of God and the life of the Lord Jesus.

How will you love, how will you live?