1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13
Introduction: In many ways we have started this year as confused, divided, and unsettled as we ended last year. As we look to the future as a church, people, and country, we must embrace the language of love. We might think we live in a peculiar time of division and despair, but in 1 Corinthians, Paul encouraged a church in a similar situation. The Corinthians were not only divided by who they followed, but also about what they emphasized. What we can learn from Paul is that it is easy to lose sight of what can guide us through our differences. We might have good intentions or concerned theology, but when we don’t have love, we miss out on everything that God intends for us. Not only that, but Paul defines what love means, so we must seek to understand and apply the way of love in our everyday lives.
Where Do We Start?
In our culture, love is probably the most agreed upon concept but the most poorly defined. We all know we need love in our lives, but we don’t know exactly what we are asking for. One way to think about this is to consider how you would respond if asked to define what love is. What immediately comes to our minds might not agree, but Paul begins 1 Corinthians 13 by describing love as patience. For us in 2021, patience is a virtue… of the past. Technology, information, and other forms of instantaneity are almost always within our reach. We bicker and fret when we have to wait in line, lose Wi-Fi connection, or when Amazon delays our package by even one day. We can all pinpoint times when our impatience has interfered with our love for others. It happens in public, among friends or colleagues, and even in our own family homes. The truth is, we need to start with patience now more than ever, and this will help us grow in love. But that is not the end of the matter. What makes Paul’s message relevant for us is not merely our incessant impatience as much as God’s steadfast patience in His love for us.
1. Our Patience and God’s Place
Patience is the first thing Paul says about love because in order to truly love people, we must first understand our own place in the world and in the lives of others. When we let God have His sovereign place in the world, it helps us realize our humble place in the world. This is essential because when we react in impatience, we immediately cross the line into God’s territory. What we are saying when we become impatient and angry is “I know how this should go.” But as limited humans, we do not and cannot claim God’s agenda for our own lives or in the lives of others. Love is patient because no fallen, broken, limited human can love another fallen, broken, limited human while assuming God’s place in their lives. Simply put, we are not God, so we must resign our place to try and frantically fix everything and everyone. What we will come to realize is that when we become patient, we become free to love.
2. Our Patience and God’s Pace
Patience is not only accepting God’s place for the people and circumstances in our lives, but also God’s pace in carrying out His plans. The word for patience in Greek here is translated “makrothumeo” which can be derived further from “macro” (long) and “thumos” (passion, heat, anger). The old KJV translates it as “long-suffering,” which is quite accurate. What we can see is that patience is not about letting go of what we feel is right or true, but the pace at which we expect these things to occur. Patience is able to take the long (macro) view because it considers God from beginning to end. On the other hand, impatience is a sign that we are more concerned with our own timetable. The call to love does not always follow our own pace. Instead, we look to God and trust that he is at work for His glory and our good.
3. Patience and God’s Promise
At this point it would be helpful to guard against a common confusion. There is a counterfeit view of patience that correlates with apathy or indifference. We return to one of the Greek derivatives of patience, “thumos” (passion, heat, anger), as it can help us greatly here. Patience does not mean that we sit back passively because patience affirms our good passions. Good passions are ones that align with God’s passions. This is not an easy or guaranteed process because in patience, we must actively seek to align ourselves with God’s passions and relinquish our selfish passions. Consider a passion for political involvement, or relational intimacy. These can hardly be considered bad in themselves, but they become quite bad if they devolve into harming or manipulating others. We must actively kill selfish passions and aim for God’s passions. In this process, God challenges us not to overlook His own promise that things will not be complete, finished, or perfected in this life. 2 Peter 3:9 reminds us that “the Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.” So we see that in patience, God is not calling us to renounce our passions, but to place them in the context of His place, His pace and His promise.
4. Our Patience and God’s Patience
By this point you might be convicted. That is okay. The power of patience comes from knowing how patient God is with us. Two primary ways that God displays His patience toward us is in kindness that brings us to repentance (Rom 2:4), and forbearance in passing over our sins (Rom 3:25-26). We cannot look at salvation in Christ, or our sanctification, guided by the Spirit, without marveling at the patience of God. We grow in patience toward others as we recognize the painfully slow pace and incompleteness of our own spiritual growth. Even if we are passionate, we cannot discount patience. In fact, all impatience find its root in forgetting or denying God’s patience with us. Consider our Savior Jesus. He lived a life as the very essence of love, yet He did not react impatiently to those who mocked, beat, and spat upon Him. Not only that, but He was crucified because of God’s patience toward us, sinners. Friends, let us observe our impatience and turn back to God. Let’s not turn away from so great a salvation and together we can strive to grow in patient love under the care of our patient and loving God.
REFLECT OR DISCUSS
How is Paul’s relation of patience and love in 1 Corinthians 13 relevant to you? Are you challenged or convicted?
In what ways have you ever passed a clear “No Trespassing Sign” into God’s territory in your own impatience? How do you discern the difference between God’s place and your place?
Consider the Greek word for patience “makrothumeo” and the derivatives “macro” (long) and “thumos” (passion, heat, anger). Does this change or help you understand biblical patience more?
Read Ecclesiastes 7:8 and James 1:19-20. What do these passages tell you about God’s pace and our pace when it comes to displaying love through patience?
In what ways are we tempted to be passive in our patience? What does it mean to be active in aligning with God’s passions and relinquishing our own?
How does God’s patience toward you motivate you to be more patient? Do you resonate with a certain element of His patience toward you (i.e. kindness, forbearance, justification)?
Read Proverbs 16:32. What does this tell you about the power of patience in a time when many see political power as what is to be pursued and desired?