Bible Digging

Love is the subject of this chapter. "Charity" [in the King James Version] is just the old-fashioned word for love; but its meaning has become obscured, and it has degenerated into the mere idea of giving to the poor. We get to know the true meaning of the word from God's use of it. The Greek word translated "charity"... is not found in any of the works of classical Greek writers. God has used this word, agape ["ag-AH-pay"] to express His own character---"God is love" (1 John 4:8).

In John 13:34-35 Jesus says, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another.... By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

It is not, "if you go to the same meeting, and hold the same doctrines," but it is, "if you love one another." That is a mark of Christian life and discipleship. It is vain for any one to talk of being a disciple of Christ and not to have this divine love. Jesus says: "Except a man deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me, he cannot be My disciple" (Luke 9:23, 14:27). Mark the two sides of this truth---self-denied and Christ followed. Divine love makes nothing of self.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 shows that outward acts of service and self-denial have no value in the sight of God if they have not the element of love in them. As I am drinking in God's love to me---basking in the sunshine of this divine love---I am like an empty vessel let down into the sea; it is in the water, and the water is in it. Thus it is that, dwelling in God, His love fills our souls and flows out to fellow-saints and to sinners. Thus God's character is reproduced in us.

Verse 1: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

This shows the worthlessness of those [spiritual] gifts which amongst men are highly esteemed, if they be not exercised in the power of this divine love. Verse 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, but have not love, I am nothing. This shows that the possession of knowledge and understanding, and even the faith that works miracles, all leave the man in God's estimate a mere cipher, if he be not actuated by this principle of divine love. Verse 3: And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. This shows that human philanthropy may go the length of giving all to the poor, and religious zeal may go so far as to yield the body to the flames, and yet if love was not the motive it will secure no recompense: "it profits me nothing." Thus we are shown that love is superior to gifts---that it is indeed the "more excellent" thing (1 Corinthians 12:31). Not that divine love will undervalue gifts, or knowledge, or faith, or self-denial. Love will rather avail itself of all for blessing to others; but we do well to learn the lesson of these verses, that is, that God can only set His seal upon that which is stamped with His own character.