OceanSide church of Christ

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The Greatest of These is Love (4)
by: Dalton Gilreath

I.                Introduction

A.    We concluded last week with love does not parade itself

                                                    i.     We sometimes get caught boasting on social media

                                                   ii.     We need to let others praise us and not ourselves (Prov 27:2)

B.    Before we conclude this point consider another passage or two

                                                    i.     Jesus’ speech was governed by God (John 12:49-50)

1.     We should adopt a similar filter

2.     Ask yourself, “would God approve of this statement?”

                                                   ii.     Jesus said we will be judged for every word we speak (Matt 12:36-37)

1.     That means every Facebook post we make

2.     That means every text message I send

                                                 iii.     Don’t be caught boasting on social media or any other way

II.              Love is not puffed up (1 Cor 13:4)

A.    The word Paul uses reminds us of the blowfish

                                                    i.     In seconds a blowfish expands into a balloon shaped fish.

                                                   ii.     We sometimes inflate our heads this way don’t we?

B.    Paul uses this term often throughout the Corinthian letter and we can note some symptoms of being puffed up.

                                                    i.     They thought above the word of God (1 Cor 4:6)

                                                   ii.     They did not practice disfellowship or even restoration (1 Cor 5:1-2)

                                                 iii.     They were not using their knowledge with love as their motivation (1 Cor 8:1)

1.     Have we been guilty of being puffed up when we evangelize?

2.     Do we use our knowledge humbly and with love?

                                                 iv.     We also see Paul reference how we address wayward Christians (2 Tim 2:24-26)

C.    Solomon wrote that pride, being puffed up, causes destruction (Prov 16:18)

                                                    i.     This is the concept of cause and effect

                                                   ii.     Pride is the cause and destruction is the effect

1.     If I am prideful with my faith I will fall

2.     If I am prideful with my spouse there will be strife

3.     If I am prideful with my children they will be hurt

                                                 iii.     Solomon also says that only by pride comes strife (Prov 13:10)

1.     Compare that with Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 3:3

2.     Envy leads to strife which leads to division

3.     Now we see why Paul addresses these aspects of love

a.     Love doesn’t envy or boast

b.     Envy and boasting lead to strife and division