The most regular use of the Greek word agape refers to a sacrificial love that seeks the good of another. This great chapter of the Bible is all about such agape. One of the things that we saw in our last look at these verses is that while you can’t exercise agape without being willing to sacrifice for other people, you can sacrifice for other people but not be motived by agape—and such loveless sacrifice gains nothing from God.
Now, as we look at the middle section of 1 Corinthians 13, we
see a great description of what agape looks like, and we will see that such
agape looks like Jesus.
Patient and Kind: The source of our salvation
We would not belong to Jesus were it not for the patience
and kindness of God.
One of my favourite verses explains that the return of Jesus
is being delayed because God is giving people the opportunity to come to repentance
(2 Peter 3:9). If Jesus had returned
before you were born you would never have had the chance to spend eternity with
him. If Jesus had returned before you
were born again, you would be spending an eternity apart from Him. But God is patient and kind, not wanting
anyone to perish but all to come to repentance.
Paul told the Roman Christians (Romans 2:4) that the
kindness of God leads to repentance. As
we see how kind He has been to us it should melt our hearts. Jesus warned about hell because He is loving,
and wanted people to be rescued from the punishment we deserve. But Jesus also wooed as well as warned. We speak to our friends not only of the
kindness of a God who gives His Son to die for our guilt, but also of a Father
who in His kindness wants to make us His cherished sons and daughters.
Agape breeds
contentment
Jesus was not a good-looking man—He had no beauty or majesty
to attract us to Him (Isaiah 53:2). He
explained that while foxes have holes and birds have nests, He was homeless
(Matthew 8:20). His relationships were
not always easy—it seems that His step-father, Joseph, died while He was young,
He never married, He was let down by those closest to Him, He faced constant
opposition and He was misunderstood by His own family. Yet this man without good looks, who was poor
and often lonely, did not envy. He was
content! Why? Because His food was to do the will of His Father
(John 4:34).
When I was in my twenties my pastor gave me a life verse: ‘godliness
with contentment is great gain’ (1 Timothy 6:6). The apostle Paul talked about learning the secret
of contentment (Phil. 4:12). Agape
brings contentment because in the love of God we see that what matters is not
what belongs to us, but who we belong to.
Agape is considerate
Agape is not boastful, puffed up or rude.
Think of the humility of Jesus, who being in very nature God
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped. Rather He made Himself nothing, taking on the
nature of a slave, being made in human likeness, and submitted Himself to a
shameful death on a cross (Philippians 2:6-8).
The humility of Christ must inspire us.
In fact, Paul says that we should think of such humility and be willing
to consider other people as more important than ourselves.
Agape does not insist on getting its own way. Where do we see that worked out in Jesus’
life? Think of the weeping saviour in Gethsemane,
take this cup from me, but not my will but yours be done! (Mark 14:36).
Agape forgives
In the book ‘Emotionally Healthy Discipleship’, the writer
explains that you can not be spiritually mature if you are emotionally immature. Sometimes emotional immaturity expresses
itself in our anger. The Proverbs warn
us that anger can be infectious, and so we are to avoid the company of those
who are easily angered. But a child of
an angry parent can not avoid the influence of an atmosphere of anger, and may
too become an angry person. You may need
help with your anger issues. The Holy
Spirit includes self-control (Galatians 5:23).
Agape also keeps no record of wrongs. In the Bible we read of our God is who
gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Try not to be someone who is easily
offended. Try to be sensitive towards
others but not overly-sensitive about yourself.
A church without a lot of forgiveness is going to be a community of
bitterness.
Agape cannot stand
gossip
What is gossip? Often
it is simply delighting in the fall of other people. It loves when they do wrong and get in
trouble. But agape is not entertained by
such things. Agape does not rejoice in
evil but delights in the truth.
Agape is not cynical
Finally, love bears all things and endures all things, which
reminds us that love is not easy. In his
book ‘True Spirituality’, Francis Schaffer points out that the two places where
people often feel let down are in marriage and the church. We have high expectations of church members
and spouses, but don’t forget that these are sinful people like us let others
down just as we do.
It also hopes all things and believes all things. This does not mean that agape is naïve. But neither is agape cynical. We should never assume the worst of
people. We should never guess their motives. We should be willing to give the benefit of
the doubt.
Conclusion
I have been thinking about discipleship. Discipleship involves teaching—Jesus told us
to go make disciples ‘teaching them to obey everything’. But knowledge is not the goal. Knowledge without love is worse than useless
(1 Corinthians 8:1).
We are seeking the sort of teaching that transforms. Indeed, a transformed life is a pre-requisite
to disciplining others. Paul urges the
Corinthians to follow me, as I follow Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). He tells the Thessalonians that ‘we offer ourselves
as an example (2 Thessalonians 3:9). He tells
the Philippians to observe those who walk in the pattern that is set in the
truth (Philippians 3:17).
So, look at agape.
Study it. See how this reflects
the heart of Christ. Ask the Holy Spirit
to form such love in you. And ask God to
be someone who can be an example to others!
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