Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1916-08-10
LESSON FOR AUG. 6
GREATEST THING in THE WORLD.
Temperance Lesson.)


True ministry is in the exercise of
spiritual gifts (Eph. 4:7-15). Every
believer is a member of the body Of
Christ, and therefore has a definite
ministry. Though the gifts are d.
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.
|. Fill the Gift With Love wv. 1-3).
Just as the body is dead unless q liv-
ing soul abides in and inspires it, so
is the gift unless filled with the spirit
of love. This is the more excellent
way" to which Paul makes reference
at the conclusion Of Chapter IL. In
| praising love Paul does not fall into
the error of criticizing others, not even
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 the
church at Corinth seem to have been
particularly gifted in this direction,
and to have been proud of 1t, Och. IA:
2-23) and eager to outstrip the others.
Paul tells them that such Boosting
amounts to little. The grace of love
is far more excellent way. (2) The
gift of prophecy. The New Testament
prophet was e forth-teller, not teller
of the future. To be forth-teller was
a thing to be coveted and admired, but
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.
II. Love 10 Known by Its Mani
festations wv. 40. Having shown the
absolute necessity of love Paul shows
how we may recognize it. The behav-
Tor of love can be seen and known.
Paul set for us Is manifestations. %
Love suffereth long. Love is no pass
ing emotion, but fixed thought. (2)
1t is kind. Kindness in action, love
at work. (3) Love envieth not. 1t
does not grow out of selfishness, for
selfshness is the very opposite of love.
(4) Love vaunteth not itself, does not
climb to the housetops to proclaim its
glory. (5) Is not pulled up. There is
no imitation, like a soap bubble, to
dazzle the eye. (6) Does not behave
itself unseemly, that is without deli
cacy of feeling. Unseemly conduct
grows from pride and sefshness,
whereas love is the foundation of true
courtesy. Cd 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
dangerous evil. The evil is not so
much in the temper but in our failure
Puts the best construction upon the
acts of others, making all possible al
lowances. (10) Rejoiceth not in mi
guilty. (1D Rejoiceth in the truth, that
is, is in sympathy with all that is true.
J2) Beareth all things; endureth
hardships and trials for the working
out of the kingdom. (13) Believeth all
things; not credulous but putting the
best construction upon the words of
others, and having faith in the final
outcome of every good cause. 14)
Hopeth all things; is not discouraged
in the dark and shadowy days. (15) |
Endureth all things; it goes on believ-
ing and hoping to the end; no obstacle
can stop it. Surely such a catalogue
of the marks of love is enough to
make us all pause and mediate.
III. The Permanence Of Life wv.
S-13). The word "faileth" here denotes
failing in the sense of cessation, and |
love is contrasted with three typical |
but passing forms Of Christian ex-
preston. Q) "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-" (2) Tongues" The
time will come when they will not be |
needed as sign nor to enable us to
express our varied emotions. The d.
vinely inspired prophecies tell but a
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 |
understood 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 wv. II, 12). In conclusion ".
49, faith, hope, love abideth, three
graces, imperishable and immortal. |
Hope is fountain; faith draws the
water and drinks love distributes the
water to Others" DR.. J. FL. Jowett. But |
the greatest of these is love. (a) Love
Ia praa for in itS nat,Yro II hrinrc NC