Bulletins
Fruits of Love
Just as loving God with the totality of our being is the foundation of heeding all of His will (Matt. 22:37-38, 40; 1 John 5:3), loving others as ourselves is the foundation of treating people the way God desires (Matt. 22:39-40; Rom. 13:9-10). When agape love is directed toward others, it produces fruit that gives proof such love exists.
For instance, 1 Corinthians 13:4 teaches that “love suffereth long.” If we love as we should, we won’t be short-tempered or retaliate when treated poorly.
1 Corinthians 13 also shows us that love is forgiving. The end of verse 5 says that love “does not keep a record of wrongs.” If we love others as we should, we won’t keep a mental list of their mistakes to use it against them. We won’t harbor bitter grudges or resentment, but be forgiving.
The forgiving spirit love shows is further manifested by a sincere desire for others’ good. 1 Corinthians 13:7 teaches that love “hopes all things,” which indicates that love wants to find good in others. While envy is discontented at others’ good fortune, “love doesn’t envy” (verse 4) and instead desires the best in others and for others.
Beyond desiring others’ good, love seeks others’ highest good. This principle is also taught in 1 Corinthians 13. Verse 5 notes that love “doesn’t seek its own way.” An example of this is in 1 Corinthians 10. Verse 23 of that chapter speaks about things God permits but does not require, and says, “‘All things are lawful for me,’ but not all things are profitable. ‘All things are lawful for me,’ but not all things build up.”
Verse 24 follows this up by saying, “Let no one seek his own, but each one his neighbor’s good.” The point is that instead of only asking, “what does God permit me to do that pleases me?”, we ought to think about what we can do that would best influence others. This is the attitude of love.
Love shows kindness (1 Cor. 13:4), both in deeds (1 John 3:17-18) and in speech. An example of this is seen in Galatians 5:14-15. The word “But” in verse 15 shows that biting and devouring one another, as the verse condemns, opposes the love promoted in verse 14. Love is not contentious or quarrelsome.
This isn’t to say that love tolerates sin or “sugar-coats” the truth. Genuine love discourages sin out of concern for others’ souls. This is taught in 1 Corinthians 13. Verse 6 notes that love “doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth.” Love doesn’t delight in others’ disobedience, but in their obedience. Such is exemplified in Mark’s account of the rich young ruler. Before Jesus’ “one thing you lack…” statement, the inspired writer says “Jesus looking at him loved him” (Mark 10:21). Jesus truly cared for the eternal well-being of the rich young ruler’s soul, and thus told the man what he needed to hear, though the man clearly did not want to hear it.
Sincere agape love is also manifested in its opposition to the sin of partiality.
This is taught in James 2:8-9. The word “But” in verse 9 shows that the sin of “show[ing] partiality” condemned in this verse opposes the command in verse 8 to love our neighbors as ourselves. While there are times we must make distinctions between people (cf. 1 Thes. 5:12-13), love will lead us to avoid treating one as if he or she is better or worse than another based on wealth, ethnicity, popularity, education, etc. (James 2:1-7). Love will lead us to let go of any such prejudices and be fair in our treatment of others.
Love is also the root of overcoming sinful gossip. The fact that love “bears all things” (1 Cor. 13:7) might be alluding to this principle. When the “golden rule” is practiced, gossip won’t be (Prov. 17:9).
While some people gossip to bring others low, others boast to exalt themselves high. Such boastfulness is also overcome by love. The end of 1 Corinthians 13:4 notes that “Love doesn’t brag, is not proud.” If we truly love others as ourselves, we won’t care to be esteemed above others, but will have the attitude of humble servitude commanded in Philippians 2:3-4.
These examples demonstrate that biblical love for others is far deeper than the shallow concept of love promoted by the world. Genuine concern for others is proven through actions, words, thoughts, and attitudes that mimic Jesus’ view of and treatment toward us (John 13:34-35).
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