Let me divide this lovely chapter into three parts. We have the superiority of love. It rises above every other virtue; it stands supreme. Then we have the sweetness of love, all the ingredients of which it is composed. Finally there is a discussion of the supremacy of love. Certain things will pass away, but love will ever abide.
We read that love is greater than eloquence, the eloquence of men or of angels. It is greater than all abilities. It is greater than all sacrifice. Note that in evangelistic effort, if love is missing, we will never reach a heart, and a soul will never be melted by the grace of God. In the sphere of teaching, if love is missing–what do we have? In the exercise of oversight, in the discharge of eldership, if love is missing, what does it all amount to? If love is missing, what a loss to the assembly of God’s people!
But look at the sweetness of love. “Love suffereth long, and is kind.” It is the very essence of kindness. Again we read, “Love envieth not.” It is never jealous of another’s gift. It does not parade its own airs; it does not blow its own trumpet. It is always polite. It is ever gentlemanly. It is the very essence of unselfishness. It never keeps a notebook of other people’s faults. “Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things.” That word beareth means to throw a covering, a protection over our failing saints. It is what Peter refers to when he quotes from Proverbs, “Love covereth a multitude of sins.” And love “believeth all things.” It is without that spirit of suspicion that is so deadly to Christian fellowship. It hopes for the best in our brethren. It endures many a disappointment while we are waiting for the best to come out. “Love never faileth.” When all else fails–prophecies, tongues, the gift of knowledge–love will carry on.
Note two illustrations: There is the illustration of immaturity. “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” That means that the miraculous gifts, the sign gifts at the beginning of our dispensation, were the childish forms of thought and communication of the infant church that led it to maturity.
The second illustration is that of imperception. “For now we see through a glass, darkly.” I submit that the glass is the mirror of Old Testament Scriptures. Those Scriptures were blurred until the New Testament revelation would clear the glass and we would see clearly. We are told that Moses and Israel saw God face to face. Where did they see God? In the Word of God! That is where we, too, see God–in the completed canon of Holy Scripture.
“Now abideth,” that is, after these things have taken place: “faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” No wonder chapter 14 begins with, “Follow after love.” This variety of gift baptized in the sea of love rises to resurrection ground to function under the authority of the Holy Spirit.
Saviour, teach me day by day,
Love’s sweet lesson to obey;
Sweeter lesson cannot be—
Loving Him who first loved me.
With a childlike heart of love,
At Thy bidding may I move;
Prompt to serve and follow Thee-
Loving Him who first loved me.
Teach me all Thy steps to trace,
Strong to follow in Thy grace;
Learning how to love from Thee—
Loving Him who first loved me.
Love in loving finds employ,
In obedience all her joy;
Ever new that joy will be–
Loving Him who first loved me.
–J. E. Leesom