Jump Start # 1287

1 Corinthians 13:4 “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant.”

  Valentine’s Day is this weekend. The stores are stuffed with chocolates, red hearts, flowers and love is in the air. Love is the foundation of our deepest relationships. Love is what turns sweet, quiet young mothers into Mamma Bears, who will do anything to protect their little cubs. Love is what drives us to go out of our way to help others. Love is what compelled God to send Jesus to rescue us. God is love, is the resounding theme of the entire Bible.

Our verse today comes from what is often considered the “love chapter of the Bible.” It is interesting where it fits contextually in Corinthians. Missing this, misses a huge lesson that the apostle intended. We often use these verses in weddings, and there is much good that can be gained from that application, but that was not the target audience. Paul is answering questions and concerns the Corinthians have about spiritual gifts. Chapter twelve begins, “Now concerning spiritual gifts…” This is the way Paul looks at their questions and answers them. This began back in chapter seven when he wrote, “Now concerning the things about which you wrote…” Chapter eight, “Now concerning things sacrificed to idols…” Later on, in chapter sixteen, “Now concerning the collection for the saints…” So, here in this section, he is answering thoughts about spiritual gifts. The Corinthians were mixed up and messed up about these things. They elevated some gifts above others. Pride made them jealous and gave some the attitude of superiority over others.

There was much to write about. Paul takes three chapters to smooth out all the wrinkles that they had. In the middle of all of this, he writes the “love chapter.” Nothing is said about weddings in these chapters. Paul did not have a wedding the next weekend and he needed to write out a few thoughts for that. Paul is sticking with the theme of spiritual gifts. “The love chapter,” is about fellowship and relationship among brethren in the congregation.

Our verse today lays down some powerful principles: patience, kindness, not jealous, not bragging, not arrogant. Three “nots.” Three negatives. Three don’t do thats. In the context in which it was written, don’t be jealous that some have a gift that you do not. Don’t brag if you have a gift that others don’t. Don’t get the big head.

The age of spiritual gifts has passed, but what has not passed is the spirit of pride, ruffled feathers, hurt feelings and jealousy among folks in the church. These things are alive and well and these words help us in getting along with one another. Some of those who have the worst problems with this are preachers. I know. I’ve been there far too many times. You listen to someone who is so smooth, talented and good and you realize that you could never, ever be like that. Oh, the feelings that can stir up inside you. This happens often with a visiting preacher. His style is different than what folks are used to. He brings his best. His best suits. His best illustrations. His best sermons. His best smile. The congregation is ready to put him up on their shoulders and parade him up and down the aisle. And there stands the lonely local preacher. His ego is shot. His feelings hurt. Jealousy arises. For me, I just wanted to quit. What is worse is when the visiting preacher leaves and you have to follow him. That can be very painful on the insides. I was standing beside a visiting preacher one service when a guy came out, throwing out so many compliments that it was nearly sickening. He then said very loudly, not realizing I was standing right there, “I sure wish we could have preaching like that around here all the time.” I just needed a hole to crawl inside. Those that preach, understand what I am talking about. I told a guy recently that the reason nearly every church building has double doors is to get the preacher’s head through it. After a while, he starts believing all the stuff people are saying. Sometimes the syrup can be too thick and it ruins instead of compliments. This is the stuff that makes jealousy so strong.

There is a greater application than just preaching, it goes to all abilities and talents. We can be jealous of what others do. And those that have a wonderful talent, can make it worse by their arrogance and pride. Little things like that often become big things. It’s the very things that causes some to leave and never come back.

Now, look at Jesus. No one had more talent than He did. No one was greater than He was. Yet He didn’t make others feel small around Him. There was something about Him that made people want to surround Him. They wanted to listen to Him. They wanted to talk to Him.

So here are a few thoughts from all of this:

First, we all have talents. All of us. I’ve met some who claim, “I can’t do anything.” Not true. We don’t have the same talent, but we all have talent. God doesn’t make junk! Remember that. You have a special niche. You are wired a special way. You can do what others can not. Too often we only measure talent by what is done publically. The behind the scenes stuff is just as important. I have a group of guys, mostly deacons, who sit in a media box while I preach. There are monitors, cameras, mixers and just a whole bunch of lights and buttons in that room. I don’t know how to even turn on the mics. But without these great guys, few could hear me. They have a talent. I know some who serve by hospitality. Their home is so welcome and inviting. They make the place as if the queen herself was coming. That’s a talent. For others, it’s visiting. They know just the right thing to do. Others, it’s fixing things for others. Still, others are gifted at inviting others to services. Some are masters at sending cards. I know, I have received a bunch and I save every one. Young people, old people, single people, married people, we all have talent, because that’s the way God made us. It would be a mess if we all did the same thing.

Second, each of us need to spend time polishing, developing and improving our talent. Get better. Learn from others. Read. Notice. Ask questions. Learn your strengths and improve upon them. The linebackers don’t spend time trying to throw a football down the field. They let the quarterbacks do that. Their strengths are somewhere else. Those that preach, preach better. Those that teach, teach better. Those that invite, invite better. Those that shepherd, shepherd better. Those that cook, cook better. Those that visit, visit better. Too often, we look at others, and cry because we can’t do what they do.  Do what you can do. Do it to the best that you can. I have a silent prayer that I pray every week, just seconds before I have to go preach. I ask the Lord to help me preach the best that I can that day. I don’t ask to be the best preacher, just help me be my best. I didn’t always pray that. Since I started, I noticed a difference. I was inviting God to help me. He did. Don’t flaunt your talent. Don’t toot your own horn. My wife and I have been going to the Louisville symphony for some time now. I’m recognizing the musicians. My favorite is the first chair cello. But the second chairs are important. They play a very important role. Because you preach does not mean that you know the Bible better than anyone else in that building. That’s not true at all. There is no place for stuffiness in the kingdom of God. We all stand behind Jesus.

Third, our attitudes about ourselves and others goes a long way to making things work as God wants them to. Share what you know with others. Don’t be in a secret club that is too good to help others. That’s not the way to go at all. Remember our verse today? Love is patient. Love is kind. Kindness to help another learn. Patience to bring him along. What I’ve found in training some younger preachers is that before long they preach better than I ever did. I see that in my son Jordan. Man, can he preach. I’m going to have him train me! He has a talent, a heart, and a kindness that will go a long way. Don’t  be jealous of such things. Be thankful! Be glad that they are on this side of the kingdom. Use them. Help them. Encourage them.

The spiritual gift issue at Corinth was getting out of hand, because attitudes were getting out of hand. We are all in the same boat and we are all after the same thing, Heaven. So help each other. Be thankful that there are so many talented people surrounding you. What a blessing that is. Don’t beat yourself up because you can’t do what they do. God made you the way you are and shine wherever you can.

The glory goes to God, not us.

Love is…

Roger