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Spiritual Gifts
The Gift of Charity [Agape Love]
Most of us have all heard the song that was very popular years ago sung by Dionne Warwick "What The World Needs Now Is Love".
We need to ask ourselves WHAT KIND OF LOVE DOES THE WORLD REALLY NEED? This song may sound great and evoke strong emotion but what kind of love is this song singing of?
The Biblical Meaning of "Charity" [AGAPE LOVE]
God's love is further defined in the word "agape" that is translated into the English word "Charity" ["love."] The word agape expresses the highest form of love which is God's divine love for mankind. This kind of love is one that is freely given because one wills to give it, not because of some kind of feeling in the heart. It is not based on any merit of the individual doing anything to deserve that love.
The Greek word for love in 1st John 4:8 is agapaó (Strong's #25) which means: to love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; denotes the love of reason, esteem. (Strong's Concordance)
A much clearer picture of godly love is given in many places in the Bible that show us what real godly love is. The first Epistle of John contains many admonishments to love as God loves and in 1st John 4:8 we are told that God IS love.
1st John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1st John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
1st John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
From these Scriptures we see that the meaning of the word Charity ["love" (agape)] in Scripture is a "purposeful commitment to sacrificial action for another" but more specifically love is the keeping of God's commandments for the commandments teach us how to love, first how to love God and then how to love our neighbor.
1st John 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
So we see that by God's own words that loving God is equated with obeying His Word which is the keeping of all of His commandments, statutes, ordinances, and judgments. Love and obedience go together and we cannot have one without the other, the two are inseparable. But the world's definition of love is apart from obedience to God's commandments and is based mostly on emotional feelings instead.
The kind of love that the world promotes has a different definition of what "love" is. In our day most people think of love as some type of feeling. We hear about "falling in love," or when a couple meet and they say it was "love at first sight." It is all about feelings and is not really true love. The kind of love that the world defines as love is basically a selfish kind of love.
The world's kind of love is all based on what the object of our love can do for us or give to us. This kind of emotional love is based on getting something from someone else, having our needs met by this person and we call this love. The people of the world think that true love is a feeling and not as action. Most people tend to only love those who please them and who make them feel good about themselves and unless that happens then they really have no love. Thus, for the people of the world love must be earned by what others can do for them or by making them "feel" love toward them.
People tend to evaluate their relationships based on their feelings rather than the kind of love that God describes in His Word and the kind of love that God shows toward mankind. This worldly love is the basis of most marriages in this present evil world, the kind that is based on emotions, lust, and the selfish idea that love means that the marriage partner is supposed to make the other partner feel good all the time and fulfill all their needs. If they don't, the "love" that they feel for that person fades away and they then feel that they have the right to move on to some other that does make them feel good and does their bidding the way they want. This kind of love is not just in marriages but extends out to other family members, to friendships, neighbors, employers, etc. The world's definition of love is very self-serving and selfish and comes and goes according one's feelings and to the circumstances in one's life.
True biblical love is not just having powerful emotions toward someone; but rather true agape love is committing our will to love others unselfishly and our commitment to love is steadfast and unchanging.
Human emotions are fickle and are subject to change, but a commitment to love in a biblical manner endures and is the hallmark of Christ's disciples. (See John 13:35)
Emotions tend to vary from day to day, but a commitment which has its basis in godly agape love will not be affected by the whims of emotion or of one's circumstances.
Christ is our example of true love and is shown in His love for us when we were still sinners.
Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Jesus Christ loved us enough to die for us and to pay for our sin debt while we were sinning against Him and before we were even called.
God the Father who was willing to send His beloved Son exhibited His love for mankind by providing a way of salvation for those who seek His forgiveness for past sins, repent of those sins and commit to follow Him the rest of their lives. Christ's willingness to suffer and die so that mankind may be forgiven for sins and have eternal life shows what true biblical love is, it is a matter of will; not of emotion or feelings. Both God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ chose to love us while we were still sinning and theirs is the love of agape love that wants to provide us with a way out of sin and death if we will only accept the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ and commit to becoming His follower for life.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
2nd Thessalonians 2:16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
The apostle Paul's instructions in 1st Corinthians 13:4-8 addresses the true righteousness of those who belong to Jesus Christ and what true biblical agape love is like.
1st Corinthians 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never faileth...
Paul tells us in verse 8 that "charity" which is true biblical "love" does not fail. Relationships based on emotion eventually fail, but relationships based on the principles of true biblical love NEVER fail.
The King James version often translates the word "agape" as "charity." But the Bible mentions three different kinds of love that are applied in three different ways.
(1) The first is "Agapao" (Strong's # 25) This word is a verb used to describe God's divine love. The noun is "apape." An example is John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.
This is the action of being committed to the well being of others without regard for their worthiness of our love even to the point of dying for them. That love was demonstrated by Jesus when He endured suffering and pain and died for our sins. God's people are to show that kind of unselfish love to others.
(2) "Phileo" This word translated "love" refers to fervent love for another person. Jesus when challenging Peter in John 21:15-17 asked do you love [agape] me more than the other disciples? Peter replied, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love (phileo) thee". This word is philéō (Strong's #5368) and means , "affectionate friendship" to show warm affection in intimate friendship, characterized by tender, heartfelt consideration and kinship. (Word Helps)
(3)"Eros" This is a noun and refers to sexual love. Definition: Eros is the physical, sensual love between a husband and wife. Although this Greek term does not appear in the Bible, eros, or erotic love, is portrayed in the Old Testament book, The Song of Solomon.
All three types of love are of God and they are gifts to mankind when used for His purposes.
The King James translators used the English word "charity" for agape love because it denotes a kind of love that is kind and is benevolent toward those who are being shown this kind of love. The English definition for "charity" is:
1: benevolent goodwill toward or love of humanity.
2a : generosity and helpfulness especially toward the needy or suffering; also: aid given to those in need.
b : an institution engaged in relief of the poor.
c : public provision for the relief of the needy.
(Merriam Webster Dictionary, http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/charity)
In the following set of verses the apostle John gives us a test to see if we truly have the [agape] love of God and if we do, we have evidence that we are truly converted and are living in a way that leads to eternal life.
1st John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
In these verses John gives simple determining factors that show if we are truly converted by comparing the love of God we have for our brothers with the lack of love that Cain (and others like him) had for his brother.
In verse 10 God tells us that those that live in unrighteousness are of the devil and are known also in that they do not have love for their brother.
Verse 11 reminds us that from the very beginning we are told to love one another.
Verse 12 uses Cain as an example. Cain killed his brother because his own works were evil and his brother's works were righteous. Cain had no love for his brother, and the basis of his hatred for his brother was that his brother did right and that is what incited Cain to murder him, it was out of envy of Abel.
In verse 13, John offers comfort to the true children of God who are persecuted by those who do not believe in God nor do they have the love of God.
In verse 14, John offers assurance of the promise of eternal life if we have agape love toward God and our brother.
And in verse 15, John says that those who do not love their brothers do not have eternal life. To have the love of God, which is charity or agape love, is evidence of true salvation when a person's love for others follows the example of the kind of love that God has for us.
Verse 16 states that the greatest manifestation of the love the world can know is the kind that motivated Christ to lay down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
John concludes with verses 17 and 18 that explains some of the ways charity plays out in serving the needs of our brethren in practical ways and not with just lip service.
Instead of teaching and practicing this kind of agape love, the worldly churches of our time more and more try to promote a "feel good" religion. Their approach is to appeal to the people's emotions and feelings rather than teaching them about how to have true spiritual agape love and commitment. Its all about emotions in lieu of the kind of love that is motivated to obey God's Word.
And this kind of false emotional feel-good concept has crept in the COG's and we must be able to recognize it for what it is and not get snared into thinking that this is the agape love of God.
Rather than stirring up emotional feelings by means of entertainment type worship services and certain kinds of emotion evoking music, we grow in the love of God by being faithful to all of God's commandments, by diligent study of His Word, and seeking to be filled with God's Holy Spirit. Peter tells us to desire God's Word just as a newborn baby seeks to be fed its mother's milk and if we do, that is how we grow.
1st Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
God's agape love is a gift and comes with the gift of the Holy Spirit. We stir up that gift by applying God's law and His righteousness to everything we do and with everyone that we come into contact with. "Let all your things be done with charity." (1st Corinthians 16:14)
Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
2nd Timothy 1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Scripture tells us we are to grow by seeking to have more of God's Holy Spirit and by growing in the knowledge of God's Word, not by emotional religious experiences or through feelings. No where in the Bible are we told to seek emotional experiences and be guided by our feelings. As the COG's gravitate more and more to the ways of purpose driven philosophy, we must see this kind of false love for what it is and not ignore what God says constitutes true godly love from His Word.
The reason so many hold this false doctrine and are weak in faith and service to God, is because so many are still spiritually immature and it is because they do not honestly know what the Bible teaches about biblical love and commitment to Christ; or they know but yet refuse to live in love as the Lord teaches. They prefer to just follow the crowd and seek the pleasure that the worldly religions offer.
The ways of the world and certain philosophies of these false churches have crept into most of the COG groups and the leaders and brethren are being influenced by these false precepts of what they think love is. Many believe that to have a relationship with God should be based on how they feel, rather than on what the Bible teaches. They refuse to look into the Bible to see for themselves what it has to say about what we are to believe and practice.
We are to prove all things just as the Bereans did and come to understand what the difference is between sound doctrine and the false traditions of men. And it because they are so emotionally tied to these traditions and to the men that lead them, that they cannot let go of things that have been clearly proven to be wrong. Or else they do not want to question what we have been taught for years for they do not want to do the hard task of studying for themselves to prove what is right. Instead of studying on their own to see what God teaches, they just assume that their leaders know what is best. And now this false emotional type of love has crept into the assemblies that is tolerant of sin and wants everyone to compromise to have "love" and "unity" within the organizations.
God tells us we are to be in union with Him first by keeping His whole Word and then all those who are ONE with Him will be unified with all others who are at one with Him. That is how it is supposed to work.
So then how are we to love others with the kind of love that is true and lasting? All of God's commandments are directives that show us how we are to love God and to love others. A scribe asked Jesus what is the first commandment, the most important commandment of all? We are all familiar with the answer that Jesus gave which is recorded for us that tells us that God's commandments are all about how to love: we are to love God most of all and then we are to love our neighbors.
Mark 12:28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love [agapaó] the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
If we love God first with all of our heart, soul, and mind we will keep the first four commandments that are directed toward Him. We will look to Him, only, as our God and we will not have any other gods [idols] in our lives. We will not set up images of anything that we think represents Him, including pictures of what men imagine Christ to have looked like, and bow down to them or worship them. We will never show disrespect by using God's name for vain purposes, to use as curse words or to curse others. We will keep His Sabbaths including all of His High Days holy and consecrate them to God in the way that He has instructed us and not in ways that carnal men have dictated. This is showing love toward God, and if we love God, we will love the people He has created in the way He directs in the remaining six commandments.
Mark 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love [agapaó ] thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Love toward man means that we show honor and respect toward the parents that God has given to us, we do not kill or even try to harm others; we keep ourselves chaste and holy in all things sexual; we do not steal from others; we do not lie but only speak the truth; and we do not covet the things that are not ours or for things that are not legitimate for us to have.
This same command is also included in Leviticus 19:18 which says "Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the LORD."
The Hebrew word for love is aheb (Strong's #157) and it means to have affection for one's brother or friend, beloved like, friend or raheb {aw-habe'}; a primitive root; to have affection for...(Strong's Exhaustive Concordance) Its parallel in the New Testament is "phileo".
God commands that we are to show both agape love and phileo love toward our neighbor.
If the world would only teach, and if all peoples every where would keep these ten laws; think about what kind of world it would be. This is the kind of love that the world really needs; agape love is what would transform the world to goodness, justice, and peace; not the sweet sentimental fuzzy type of love that the songs composed by men who are misled sing about.
Jesus told the scribe that to love one's neighbor as oneself is commanded by God but a person will never truly love their neighbor until he first learns to love God. True godly love is the natural result of loving God which will then extend to loving our neighbor. A true child of God who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit is infused with God's own divine nature of love which then enables that person to love others with God's sacrificial love.
1st John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
Jesus tells us that a person is known by his fruits. True biblical love can only be known by the actions that it prompts. It is not the love of just showing warm affection and being a nice person at the same time tolerating and condoning sin because we do not want to come off as harsh or "unloving". This kind of love is a perversion of the true Gospel that commands all men to repent and turn from their sins. True love will rebuke sin and it may even look harsh to those who observe it, but that is the kind of love that promotes true change in the lives who receive correction and then commit to keep all of God's law in the ways He instructs in the whole Word of God. Soft sentimental love may feel good but if it is tolerating and does not bring about conviction to repent on the part of those hearing, then that kind of love is useless.
Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
A test of true biblical love of whether a teacher, or anyone for that matter, loves God is their fruits. One may say "of course I love God" yet it is the faithfulness and obedience to God's commandments and to His whole Word is what demonstrates whether an individual truly loves God or if his love is mere words.
Perfect love was exemplified by our Lord Jesus Christ. As Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, He was in agony over what He knew He would have to endure within the last hours of His life as He suffered and died for the sins of all mankind. In spite of having strong feelings that He did not want to have to go through such suffering, nevertheless He prayed "Not my will, but thine be done." Only a pure agape love would be willing to suffer for the world, fully knowing that most of the world would reject Christ's sacrifice for them during this present age.
John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
Love produces action, and if true godly love is present it will be evident. Godly love will be willing to sacrifice for the one who is loved. Those that lack godly love, lack any kind of commitment; they are like fair weather friends. They may show passionate feelings of love one minute and replace it with a cold heart the next. True biblical love is steadfast and shows forth as stability in one's life.
The church groups today are the epitome of this Laodicean attitude. The church members at Laodicia were were neither hot nor cold for they had lost their zeal for the things of God. Those with an Laodicean attitude are complacent in their commitment to zealously keep all of God's commandments and do not really care if they are keeping them in the ways God prescribed for them to be kept; instead they keep them as their leaders tell them to keep them and as they see fit. In our day we pollute God's Sabbaths, Holy Days; we willingly follow men who demand that we follow a man-made calendar rather than keeping God's biblical requirements for determining new months and when His festivals are to be kept.
True agape love for God is not the kind of motivation that is temporally whipped up by listening to emotionally charged messages. Members who live from Sabbath to Sabbath having to be pumped up by emotional messages each week or hearing messages that only invoke sentimental feelings that have no substance do not inspire one to examine their lives and make the necessary changes that would bring them into more alignment with the righteousness of God. The messages may be full of emotional appeal but if they do not teach sound doctrine, they do not build faith and the love of God into the people, and this is not what Paul meant when he taught that we are to be edifying and building each other up. Sermons and articles that spark strong emotions yet lack admonition to live for God and to wholeheartedly keep His whole Word of God; keep the people in apathy and complacency.
Some of us may have seen the way the mainstream Christians worship in videos and in you-tube. We see the ones in the audience with adoring faces, up-lift hands and arms waving back and forth in the air swaying to the beat of the music as they are being charged up emotionally; but this kind of worship does not produce any lasting spiritual benefit in the life of these worshipers.
Worshiping God with our emotions does not produce real faith or agape love of God. When those who worship in this way face hard trials, they are no longer in their emotional comfort zone, and their emotions do not bring them comfort. They may seek relief by listening to highly charged music with religious phrases and rhythmic beat, and it may lift their spirits momentarily for a while; but the real work of dealing with the trial is not being accomplished and this kind of emotional relief does not bring long-lasting comfort and does not really solve their problems.
When the burdens of life seem unbearable and we are weighed down with hard trials or feeling the agony of rejection by friends and loved ones, it is God's Word and His promises that bring true comfort. It is through the power of God's Holy Spirit in us that brings true peace that surpasses all understanding. God tells His children that He will never leave us nor will He forsake us; if we are living faithfully for Him. What brings true help is knowing and believing with all of our hearts, absolutely, that God is in control and that we are in His hands and that He loves us more than we could ever imagine.
Syrupy sentimental love or whipped up emotional messages lacking substance, will not give us the strength and comfort we need in a time of peril, only God's Word will.
Pastors that promote love that is not based on living according to the whole Word of God but are tolerant of sinners and are willing to compromise for organizational unity or to retain their positions are not really helping. They are like hirelings who do not really care for the sheep and they are not the true servants of God. Instead they are leading their followers astray and God will eventually judge them for doing so. This kind of love is like medicine that treats the symptoms without addressing the deep rooted cause of a disease and the disease is never healed because the symptoms which are really meant to be alarms going off to indicate that there is something wrong, are squelched. True servants of God will direct their followers to the truth of God's Word, to sound doctrine and exhort them to repent and obey God always.
1st Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
If we truly love God, it will be based on His immeasurable love for us and that love will keep us going when life gets hard and trouble is on every side. God's love, the kind that is not shakable, will not be like waves of the sea rolling back and forth, it will keep us confidently moving ever forward, it will keep us grounded and we will continue to grow in spite of trouble. In fact, we come to realized that the trials and troubles are molding and fashioning us and are facilitating our growth if we do not let down or give up.
A More Excellent Way
1st Corinthians 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
1st Corinthians 13 is called the Love Chapter. It is a comparison of true agape love verses the kind of selfishness that was being displayed by the brethren in Corinth. In chapter 14, we read of Paul's addressing the problem that was rampant in the congregation. The members were misusing their spiritual "gifts" to be seen of men and so that they could draw attention to themselves rather than using them to serve the brethren.
1st Corinthians 13 is an instruction manual explaining in detail the ways of godly love and what true agape love looks like compared to the selfishness of human nature. In the beginning of the chapter Paul states that it does not matter how much we are gifted and that those gifts mean nothing if they are not accompanied with agape love [charity].
1st Corinthians 13:2 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
The Corinthians were seeking gifts from God to use for their own vanity rather than being motivated to serve God because of their love for Him and to show love to others. This problem still exists in the Ekklesia to this day and therefore all three chapters (12, 13, 14) pertain to us as well. 1st Corinthians 13 teaches us to behave as God does, which is love, and then how not to act, with these verses revealing the fruits of godly love compared to the bad fruit of ungodly behavior.
1st Corinthians 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
There are 16 things in just these four verses that decipher what is and what is not agape love. Here is a breakdown of what all of these things entail:
(1) Charity is long suffering [patient]. Even when we feel like forcefully taking things into our own hands, love steps in and helps us to restrain ourselves. Agape love bears trials and suffering without complaint, shows forbearance under provocation or difficulty, and is steadfast despite opposition, persecution, or adversity.
(2) Charity is kind even when one wants to retaliate with harmful words or even fight back physically; agape love is sympathetic, considerate, gentle and agreeable.
(3) Charity is not jealous (envieth not) especially when we are aware that others are being noticed more than us. Love does not participate in rivalry, is not hostile toward one believed to having more advantages and is not suspicious. Love works for the welfare and good of the other.
(4) Charity does not boast [brag or vaunteth not itself] even when we may have a need to tell the world about our gifts and/or our accomplishments we keep it quiet. Agape love does not show off nor flaunt itself boastfully and does not engage in self-glorification. Rather, love desires to edify and to build up others. "Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips." (Proverbs 27:2)
(5) Charity is not arrogant nor prideful (is not puffed up) even when we believe we are right and others are wrong. Agape love is not confrontational, does not try to stir up strife, does not assert itself or become overbearing in its dealings with others.
(6) Charity does not act unbecomingly (does not behave unseemly) even when being aggressive, rude or domineering will get for us attention, and may very well cause us to get our own way, we restrain from acting in those ways. Agape love does not use intimidating tactics but conforms to what is right, fitting, and appropriate to the situation in order to honor the Lord.
(7) Charity does not seek its own. Agape love is not selfish and self centered and it does not try to fulfill its own desires at the expense of others, does not demand to have its own way, and does not try to take advantage of others. Godly love, is an act of the will which seeks to serve rather that alwasys being the one served.
(8) Charity is not easily provoked even when others attempt to provoke us or we are tempted to retaliate and strike out at someone. Agape love is got given to temper tantrums, is not touchy or overly sensitive, never displays outbursts of anger toward others. Agape love sets the proper example of righteous conduct even in the face of bullying and persecution from others.
(9) Charity does not think of ways to retaliate or get back at others even when we are treated unfairly (it thinketh no evil). When other people seem to be against us or when others openly attack us, agape love does not hold a grudge against anyone. It forgives, chooses not to bring up past wrongs to use in accusations and never seeks revenge. It does not return evil for evil, and does not indulge in commiseration. It does not gossip or spread slander about other people.
(10) Charity does not rejoice in unrighteousness (rejoiceth not in iniquity). The love (agape) of God delights not in wickedness, rather, it delights in the words, ways, and knowledge of God. It does not find delight in the suffering of others even when they may be doing things that deserve to be punished or to have misfortunes. Agape love mourns over sin, its effects, and the pain that it brings to the world. It prays for those who do wickedness to come to the knowledge of God and to be reconciled with Him. Jesus tells us to pray for our enemies and bless them by doing good and not evil against them.
Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
(11) Charity rejoices in the truth and loves God's truth and is happy when others come to know the truth. Knowing God's truth sets us free from falsehoods and Satan's lies and that truth gives us an inner peace, the kind of peace that surpasses all understanding for it gives us hope in what God has planned for us and eventually for all of humanity.
(12) Charity bears all things even even when the disappointments in life seem unbearable. Agape endures the failings and weaknesses of others who are trying our patience or with those who may be difficult to understand or to deal with. Love keeps in mind that spiritual maturity takes a long time to develop and that we are all at different levels and we need to have patience with one another as long as it is not tolerating and condoning willful sin. Agape love looks at the whole picture and has God's perspective when working through trials and difficulties with ourselves and with others.
(13) Charity believes all things and wants to believe the best about others even when we see their failings. Love does not judge unfairly but waits for the facts to be proven before making improper assessments when we see or hear of others seemingly sinful behavior. Even when facts do prove that the other person is untrustworthy, love puts the situation into God's hands and hopes that God can restore them.
(14) Charity hopes all things even when everything appears to be going wrong and lawlessness seems to be taking the upper hand. Agape love sustains our hope and faith in God's plan and knows that no matter what, God's plan and purpose will be fulfilled. Godly love confidently entrusts others to the Lord even when their salvation seems hopeless, knowing that God is sovereign and that He will bring about whatever it takes to bring our friends and loved ones to the knowledge of Him and His truth in the very best way and in His perfect timing for each person.
(15) Charity endures all things even when we think we just can't endure the difficult people or circumstances in our life; agape love remains steadfast under suffering or hardship without yielding and still does good while undergoing trials.
(16) Love never fails even when we feel overburdened and our circumstances seem bleak and hopeless. Agape love will not fall apart under pressure or when things are difficult; it remains steadfast and faithful to God and His commandments even to the point of death. When iniquity abounds all around us and when others have let their hearts become lukewarm or even cold, we must not let our [agape] love wax cold. and we must remain committed that we will endure to the end. ( See Matthew 24:12-13)
It is this kind of love as expounded upon in 1st Corinthians 13, of which is the very spiritual intent of all of God's laws that should characterizes the life of a believer. Jesus said that He was giving the disciples a NEW COMMANDMENT, to love others as He loves us, and if we have this kind of agape love for one another, we will show the world that we are truly His disciples.
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
And as we have all experienced it is impossible to attain to this very high standard of what it means to have agape love on our own. How many of us have tried and find ourselves failing and making mistakes in having this kind of love toward our neighbor, our spouse, or our children, and others. It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can succeed in showing this kind of love. It is a life-long endeavor and even though it is difficult we must keep these virtues foremost in our minds. When it just seems impossible to uphold these ideals, we can cry out to God to help us; and when we find ourselves facing certain challenges, we can ask God to fill us with His divine love according to His promises.
Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Matthew 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
What is the "amour of light?" It is God's agape love; it is the gift of God and it is as if He puts Christ's own heart in us to live and love as Christ does and empowers us to love as He does.
Ephesians 4:24 says, "And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."
When we put something on it involves an action, it is an act of one's will and it is not just something we feel. God's agape love is based on His truth which is God's Word. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path". (Psalm 119:105)
Agape Love then is based on truth and in obedience to all of God's commandments from the heart in all of their spiritual applications; it is not just not an emotion or a soft fuzzy type of sentimental niceness and physical affection APART from truth and obedience.
Yes, the world does need more love, more of God's AGAPE LOVE. When Christ returns He will flood the world with the light of His love, the only kind of love that will bring peace, right relationships, happy families, good will, happiness, abundance, and everlasting life for all men.
Jeremiah 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
1st John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Let us be passionate to love God as He defines love, through the keeping of all the commandments, laws, statutes, precepts and judgments of the whole Word of God.
Constance
To review our past studies on the subject of Agape Love as a Fruit of the Spirit, and an article expounding on 1st Corinthians 13 please see:
http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs127/1113156846595/archive/1117140339248.htm
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