Middletown transcript., 1916-08-05
LESSON FOR AUG. 6
GREATEST THING lNTHE WORLD
Temperance Lesson.)

IulllAolASs AhO'AS5h NAAC EAAbS a. W.
verse, all are equally honorable be-
cause they are bestowed, administered
and energized by the Holy Spirit
Love alone gives value to the. ministry
of any gift.
I. Fill the Gift With Love (vv 1-:3)
Just as the body is dead unless u liv'
ing soul abides in and inspires it, 81
Is the gift unless filled with the spirit
of love. This is the more excellenl
way" to which Paul makes reference
ut the conclusion Of Chapter u. In
praising love Paul does not fall into
the error of criticizing others, not ever
his followers, and suggests that even
he may be wanting in this trait. The
Corinthians were eager to attain eX-
cellence and to be prominent in wis
dom and philosophy; to understand
the world in which they lived; to be
scholars and teachers and improve
and correct society. Paul therefore
shows how vain are such things unless
filed with the motive of love. (1) The
gift of tongues. The saints in th'
church at COrinth seem to have been
particularly gifted in this direction
and to have been proud of 1t, (Ch. IA :
2-23) and eager to OutStrip the others.
Paul tells them that such bOasting
amounts to little. The grace of love
is far more excellent way. (2) The
gift of prophecy. The New Testamen
prophet was a forth-teller, EOt teller
of the future. To be fOrth-teller was
a thing to be coveted and admired, buI
not unless accompanied by love. (3)
Miracle working. A man can have
this in the most powerful form con
ceivable, and yet if he has not love.
he is nothing. (4) BenevOlence. You
can give all you have for the most
philanthrOpic purpose, to feed tht
poor. ard if you have not love you are
nothing" How many false hopes
this will anniIhilate (see Mathew 81
4 % :5). (5) MnrtyrdOm. Give the body
to die at the stake, and it will bring
no great reward. The supreme gift
the one absolute essential, is love.
can stop it.
u. Love Is Known by Its Mani.
festations wv. 40. Having shown the
absolute necessity of love Paul shows
how we may recognize it. The behav-
iOr of love can be seen and known.
Paul set for us Is manifestations. ~
Love suffereth long. Love is no pass
ing emotion, but a fixed thought. (2)
It Is Is kind Kindness IN action love
at work. (3) Love envieth not. II
does not grow out of SelfiShneSS. for
selfishness is the very opposite of love.
az Love vaunteth not itself, does moi
climb to the housetops to proclaim its
glory. (5) Is not puffed up. There is
no imitation. like a sOIp bubble, to
dazzle the eye. co Does not behave
itself unseemly, that is without deli
cacy of feeling. UnSeemly cOnduci
grows from pride and selfishness.
whereas love is the foundation of true
courtesy. ~ Seeketh not her own. Is
not looking out for self first Of all. (S)
Is not easily provoked; good tempered.
not irritable. To lose ones temper is
a dangerous evil. The evil Is not So
much in the temper but in our failure
to control it. (9) Thinketh no evil
Puts the best construction upon the
acts Of others, making all possible al.
lOwanceS. (10) RejOiceth not in mi
guilty. (11) RejOiceth in the truth. that
is. Is in sympathy with all that is true
(12) Beareth all things; endureth
hurdships and trials for the working
out of the kingdom. (13) Believeth ull
things; not credulOns but putting the
best construction upon the words of
others, and having faith in the final
outcome Of every good cause. QD
HOpeth all things; is not discouraged
in the dark and shadOwy days. 15)
Endureth all things; 1t goes on believ-
ing and hoping to the end; no obstacle
can stop it. Surely such q catalogue
of the marks of love is enough to
make us all pause ard mediate.
III. The Permanence Of Life (vv.
8-13). The word "faileth" here denotes
failing in the sense of cessation, and
love is cOntrasted with three typical
bur passing forms Of Christian ex-
preston. ID prophecies; not the
things prOpheSied but the gift or act
of prOphesying ". 81 which at best
can only partially express Gods word.
Prophecy will pass away in the fuller
vision and wider knowledge of God
"Who is love-" ~ Tongues" The
time will come when they will not be
needed as a sign nor to enable us to
express our varied emotions. The d.
vinely inspired prophecies tell hut
part Of what is yet to be. (3) "KnOwl-
edge" 1t shall be done away in the
fuller knowledge Of the eternal world
as the light of the stars vanish before
the rising sun. When that which is
perfect is come these lights will be
seen to be only like the separate stones
of quarry which can only be. fully
when the whole building
stands before us in It's completion.
Paul gives an illustration of this truth
from the familiar case of the growing
child (vv. IL, 12]. In conclusion ".
13) faith, hope, love abldeth, three
Eraces, imperishable and immortal.
Hope is a fountain; faith draws the
water and drinks; love distributes the
water to Others" DR.. j. H. Jowett. But
the greatest of these Is love. (a)- Love
Is greater in it's nature. 1t brings us
closer to God, making US partakers of |
his nature. 1t is the one thing with
put which faith and hone are of little |
avail. (b) 1t is powerful as an -
luence for good and the strongest mo-
i've for the upbuil1lng of character.
(c) 1t is universal, reaching people of
every degree, land and nation. The