First Corinthians 13 is commonly called the Love Chapter because Apostle Paul tells us what love does and does not do. Yet we also know from John that God is Love – 1John 4:8. Therefore 1 Corinthians 13 is a summary of God’s nature and His Life. The common reading of the passage applies Paul’s statements to the believer as something we should do and not do in a similar way to the Ten commandments or any other list of commands. But if God is Love then He also acts in the same way that love does. This seems unnecessary to write —however many of us believe things about God that contradict the description of love. If there is a contradiction between what we believe and God’s love described by Paul–then we need to repent and see Him for Who He is….LOVE.
1Co 13:4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
1Co 13:5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
1Co 13:6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
1Co 13:7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1Co 13:8 Love never fails….NKJV
A lot of people imagine that God can do whatever He wants to do. That would make God lawless.
If God gave Law….then He also has bound Himself by the Law.
A policeman is subject to the Law even though he is the one who enforces it. Do we think about the Police, that they can do whatever they want to…that they are above the law? Well, they may imagine themselves to be above the law at times…but the law catches up with even the most corrupt officials.
God is not lawless. He does not say–Do not murder…only to commit murder Himself. Do not lie…only to lie Himself. In fact God says He cannot lie. Why cannot God lie? Because He IS TRUTH by His very nature.
God by His very nature is truth…and Love. A loving deed is not a thing that God has to think about whether or not to do….EVERYTHING GOD DOES IS LOVE…because He is love.
Paul says that Love suffers long and is kind….therefore God suffers long and is kind for God is love.
This is brought out everywhere in His dealings with people. When Jesus preached the sermon on the mount GOD said–
Mat 5:44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
Mat 5:45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Like Father like son! That is what Jesus is saying here. Your Father in heaven suffers long and is kind—you be the same and it shows that you are of the Father.
There are many who would argue that God’s long-suffering and kindness has a limit. Then His Love also has a limit. Then He Himself is limited….and cannot rightly be called Love. Paul tells us that LOVE NEVER FAILS…1 Cor 13:8…therefore if Love never fails then God’s long-suffering knows NO LIMIT nor does His kindness.
It’s His KINDNESS that leads us to repentance.
If His kindness could fail then no one could repent.
But Love/God is kind…and love/God never fails….therefore His kindness never ends….therefore all people shall eventually repent.
Long suffering and Kind….that is God. Towards you and towards me…and through you towards others….long-suffering and kind.
