Sermon Snippet – Lavish Limited Love
INTRODUCTION – Last week, from Ephesians 3:14-21, we studied the unlimited love of our Savior God. We acknowledge that our love cannot match His, for we are limited in all of our capacities, in everything that we do. However, as we considered three weeks ago, we are called to be Asbestos Christians – that is, doing as best as we can to follow our Lord and please Him. From I Corinthians 13, let us focus on two practical expressions of love.
1. LORD, HELP US TO BE PATIENT
The King James Version’s translation of agape as “charity” is extremely useful. We think of charity as active help for those who have needs. Well, we all actively need people to be patient with us, and we need to learn to be patient with others and with ourselves. “Charity suffereth long” (verse 4a); love is patient. It is important that we understand this patience as resulting from genuine love. Otherwise, it is no more than a stoic stiff upper lip or a careless and callous “Whatever.” Even really evil people can be extraordinarily patient (for example, terrorist sleeper cells), but this worldly patience has no positive results for anyone. The Greek word is literally “long-tempered,” and it focuses on relationships rather than circumstances. The example of our Lord God informs our understanding of patient love: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9). I frequently refer to Luke 23:34a: “Then said Jesus, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.’” This loving patience is, like God, unlimited and available to all. It also helps us to avoid the world’s obsession with retaliation, with getting even. Even the Greek philosopher Aristotle taught that no slight was to be tolerated and that it was virtuous to respond with vengeance. The Bible teaches the opposite: “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto [God’s] wrath: for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay,’ saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19, quoting from Deuteronomy 32:35). We must remember God’s patience with us. It is also helpful to recall people who have been patient with us. These examples show us that, even though we are limited, we can grow in patience.
2. LORD, HELP US TO BE KIND
Active love “is kind” (verse 4b). As always, we begin with the demonstrated character of God. Romans 2:4 pointedly asks, “Or despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering [kindness]; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” Titus 3:3-7 is a lengthier exposition of this thought. The only reasonable response to this divine kindness is to seek to be kind. Some unkindness is unplanned, prompted by misunderstanding, anger, or – please forgive my bluntness – plain stupidity. At least twice in my years of running, drivers have steered their cars at me, no doubt hoping for a response of fear (which I refused to give them). Even worse is the conniving of some, the planning of cutting remarks or humiliating acts. Schools and social media are unfortunately often incubators of unkindness. Let us combat that cruelty with kindness – the kindness of Christ Jesus.
CONCLUSION – Our love, like us, is limited. However, we can lavish that limited love upon those around us. We can learn patience and kindness from our Lord. As our love for Him grows, we can grow to be patient and kind. Let us think of others and ways that we can show them that we love them.