The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1909-08-19
Paul on
Christian Love
Sunday School Lesson for August 20, 1909
Specially Arranged for This Paper
Specially Arranged for This Paper

faith. hope, love, these three; but the
greatest of these is lowell go. 1913.
| TIME-The First Bpistle to the Cor
inthians was written from Ephesus in
the spring Of A. d. 81.
Suggestion and Practical Thought.
/. Love Completes All Virtues, and
Makes Perfect All the Good Things Of
Life.-Vs. 1-3. First. Eloquence, unin-
spired by real love, not seeking the
highest good of the hearer, is but
sounding brass, or a tinkling GYM
ball" mere noise without harmony,
without meaning, without the soul of
music. This is true even IL we had
the gift of tongues bestowed by the
Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
Second. knowledge is powerless to
build up character and the Christian
life unless il is guided and filled with
love.
Third. Faith. 2. "And though
have all faith, so that l could remove
mountains" as promised in Matt.
1890; 21:21, the mightiest and most
enduring faith, One may have the
most strenuous faith in the facts and
doctrines of Christianity, without the
faith that moves and touches the
heart, faith that knows but does not
obey. And have not charity" He
does not assert that one can have
these things without love, but says If
he could: Il am nothing" A moral
cipher. without any moral worth or
Significance; weighed in the balance
and found wanting.
Fourth. Almsgiving. 3. And
though bestow all my goods to feed
the poor" AS the Pharisees gave
aims and Ananias sold his property
from unworthy motives, without love;
while Barnabas and many others sold
theirs from love, and Jesus babe the
rich young man do the same, as an
expression of love and faith.
Fifth. Martyrdom. And though
give my body to be burned" From
unworthy motives, from pride, for
desire for honor or glory. There are
prosecuted upon whom Jesus pro-
nounces his highest blessing Matt.
6:10-12), but they are prosecuted "for
righteousness sake" Yet even of
these things. when done without love,
II must be said 1T profiteth me moth
ing" There is no virtue in it to be
rewarded. II does not improve the
character nor aid the cause.
ii. The Spectrum OF Love. The
Qualities Which Are Combined in Per
feet Love.-Vs. Al. The absolute i'm
portance of love, as an essential part
OF all virtues and actions, has been
shown I'm the first three verses.
Our next duty is to learn what love
is. Like life. love cannot be defined.
but it can be described and recognized
by what II does, by its fruits, by the
expression of it's qualities. II is like
life. The greatest scientists cannot
tell what II is In its essence, but only
describe 1t by qualities and results.
First Ingredient. Patience 4. Char
fly Qove) suffereth long" Is patient
with the faults and provocations of
others. never weary of well doing"
Second Ingredient Kindness. And
is kind" Kindness is love working,
love I'm action. doing "as many kind
things to as many people as possible.
Third Ingredient Generosity
Charity envieth not" Selfshness,
the opposite of love. is the soil in
which envy grows.
Fourth Ingredient Humility. Char
fly vaunteth not ITSELF" does not
sound the praises OF its own deeds,
nor proclaim its virtues with a
trumpet. rs not pulled up" With
self-coneeit, as soap bubble, large in
size. but mostly wind
Fifth Ingredient. Courtesy. 8.
Doth not behave itself nnseemly."
Almost all unseemly conduct flows
from pride and selfishness.
Sixth Ingredient Unselfshness.
"Seeketh not her cwn." Is not look
ing out for self first OF all 1t seeks
to give more than to receive.
Seventh Ingredient. Good Temper.
rs not easily provoked" II does not
lose its temper The popularity of all
temper is that II is the vice of the
virtuous. 1t is often the one blG1 on
an otherwise noble character. No
form of vice is more base; not world
hness. not greed of gold, rot drunken
hess itself, does more to un-Christian-
ise society than evil temper
Eighth Ingredient. Guilelessness.
"rhinketh no evil" Love puts the
best construction upon the acts of
others, instead of the worst, as
many do.
Ninth Ingredient Sincerity. 6.
"Rejoiceth not in iniquity" Is not
glad when others sin, hates to report
the weaknesses and faults Of others,
refuses to seem good by depreciating
others. "Rejoiceth in the truth" Bet
ter as r. ", "rejoiceth with the truth"
is In sympathy with all that is true,
rejoiceth whenever II can find a viz
tue or good deed In others, joys in the
triumph of virtue
1t "beareth all things" The Greek
means to protect. as shield protects
= soldier.
Or the sides Of a ship protect II
against the thrush of the "multitudin-
GUS seas" or wall and battlements
bear all attacks of an invading army.
II 'belieyeth ALL things" has perfect
confidence In God as the God of love.
It's very nafttra fe 10 Aoao tsu,.