Bible Studies for Life: July 31

What does love look like? • 1 Corinthians 13

By Clay Anthony

Thirteen verses are all that we have in today’s passage. Short but very concise wording goes a long way when describing what Biblical love looks like. This passage has been read at many weddings and should be read aloud in many other places as well.

The Apostle Paul was writing to a church in the midst of an ancient city that did not know a better way to live outside the Greco-Roman mindset of the time (1 Corinthians 12:30).

Does Biblical love resemble a person full of ability only? What if this person can move mountains with their oratory skills? The Greeks loved debates.

Paul was familiar with this culture (Acts 17:16-21). He knew that if one did not have the ability to speak well, then no amount of arguing would win the day regardless of how much truth was missing from such a speech. Paul understood that the best speakers were mere noise makers without love peppering their words.

Does Biblical love bring to mind those who have the powers of argumentation and persuasive understanding? If one has a PhD behind their name, certainly they know what they are talking about, right?

It is hard to argue with a head full of knowledge, the Greeks would say. Paul on the other hand would say that a head full of knowledge is empty unless the heart is also full of love. It is possible to win an argument but lose a listener over an unloving spirit. That was not a winning situation at all for Paul.

Does Biblical love look even a bit like faith? Surely if one has faith that can move mountains, this is a person following God’s pattern of love. Does this not beg the question of in what does this person have faith?

Faith in anything other than God is not love. Faith that is kept to oneself is not love. Faith that does not inspire others to share that same faith is not love.

Does Biblical love cause one to give up claims to all rights, property, and even their own life? It certainly can and throughout history has done that very thing. Yet, if any other those actions were taken without love, then they were a waste of time.

What is the opposite of a loving outlook? That would be an inward outlook. You can sell possessions for selfish reasons (Acts 5). Paul states that one could even give their lives to martyrdom yet with the absence of love, what has that accomplished?

Skipping ahead to verses 8-12, Paul argues in detail against the points brought up in verses 1-3. Teaching ministries, speaking abilities, and heads full of knowledge will all pass away. There will always be someone next in line that is smarter or better than what you see and hear now. There are always new things to learn, and discoveries to be made.

In Paul’s day, the earth was known to be flat. With the passage of time, we grew up and learned new truths and facts. At one point we all thought we either did not need God or at least we were not that bad of a person. Much like children, we never know as much as we think we do. Hindsight is 20/20 no matter how old you are. 

Biblical love is nothing like what the Corinthians had experienced. Unlike heads full of knowledge and great oratory skills, it will never fade. In verses 4-7, we find descriptions of what Biblical love is and what it is not. Read those words for yourself.

We should find comfort that true love never comes with a performance. Love is indeed a verb, but it is so much more. Any action we take that is not undergirded by love is not the way God desires us to love in the first place.

Biblical love is the highest goal and the standard we can shoot for (v.13). Do you have faith? Great. You will need it to get to heaven. Are you full of hope? Great. It teaches you that something better is coming. The best of all is love. Without that one facet of our lives, everything else is a waste.

With all of this said, what does our love look like? Are we attempting to be noticed by our powerful, eye-catching deeds? Is there a part of us that desires to be front and center in our service?

Reread verses 4-7. Do you find yourself described there? Better yet, do you find Jesus described there? 

Anthony is director of the Collaborative Missionary Network, Oxford/Holly Springs.