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I show you a better way… 1 Cor. 13
I show you a better way… 1 Cor. 13
The Corinthians had caused division and ill will over almost everything. They divided over teachers, they accepted immorality, they were so greedy and covetous that they brought fraudulent lawsuits, they would destroy each other over their personal rights, they caused division over the use of the Spirit's gifts, they even denied that there would be a resurrection. It must have been a fun church to be a member of (note the sarcasm in this, please).
Hence Paul simply states 'I will show you a still more excellent way' (1Cor. 12:31). The greatest commandment is to love God with all of your heart. The second commandment is to love my neighbor as myself. This would be even more so concerning our brothers whom we have joined ourselves within the worship and service of God.
Jesus commanded: love one another (John 15:12, 17). He taught: "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35).
Peter said we "purified our souls in obedience to the truth FOR (unto, to, towards) a sincere brotherly love" (1Pet. 1:22). He then commands the brethren to "love one another earnestly from a pure heart."
Paul prayed that the brethren in Thessalonica would "increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you" (1 Thessalonians 3:12). He commanded that the brethren in Rome would "love one another with brotherly affection" (Rom. 12:10).
What then does it look like when we love one another? Obviously NOT like what was going on in Corinth! Instead, take Paul's description given in 1Cor. 13:4-7, and make it personal.
"I am patient and kind; I do not envy or boast; I am not arrogant or rude. I do not insist on its own way; I am not irritable or resentful; I do not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoice with the truth. I bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, endure all things."
Can you really say that about yourself in your relating unto the brethren? We ought to be able to… if we love one another.
Hugh DeLong
