Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-08-04
LESSON FOR AUG. 6
GREATEST THING IN THE WORLD
Temperance Lesson.) }

spiritual SlItS (Epn. 4G-l0). EVERY
believer is a member of the body of
Christ, and therefore has a definite
ministry. Though the gifts are di-
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 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 II. 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
filled with the motive of love. Q) 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 offt, (Ch. IA:
2-23) and eager to outstrip the others
Paul tells them that such boasting
amounts to little. The grace of love
fe n 70
gift of prophecy. The New Testament
prophet was a 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. I'D
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 the
poor, and if you have not love you are
nothing" How many false hopes
this will annilhilate (see Mathew 6:1,
4; % :5). (5) Martyrdom. 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.
~. Love Is Known by Its Mani
festations (vv. 4-T). 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. Q
Love suffereth long. Love is no pass
ing emotion, but a 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 puffed up. There is
no imitation, like 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 selfishness,
whereas love is the foundation of true
courtesy. 90 Seeketh not her own. Is
not looking out for self first of all. (8)
Is not easily provoked; good tempered,
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 ini-
quity. CID Rejoiceth in the truth, that
is, is in sympathy with all that is true.
(12) Beareth all things; yendureth
hardships and trials for the working
out of the kingdom. (13) Be1ieveth 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. Q4
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 (vv
! S-13). The word ''failethP here denotes
failing in the sense of cessation, and
love is contrasted with three typical
but 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-" (2) Tongues" The
time will come when they will not be
needed as a sign nor to enable US to
express our varied emotions The di-
vinely inspired prophecies tell but {
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 a 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 (vv. II, 12). In conclusion "
13) faith, hope, love abideth, three
graces, imperishable and immortal
"Hope is a fountain; faith draws the
water and drinks; love distributes the
water to Others" DIR. J. H. Jowett. Blu
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
out which faith and hope are of little
avail. (b) 1t is powerful as an il
fluence for good and the strongest mo
tive for the upbuilding of character
(c) 1t is universal, reaching people o
every degree, land and nation. The
longer one lives the more love he car
have. 1t grows and has an increasin:
blessedness and glory.
(d) 1t is greatest because God il
love, and has expressed that infinit,
love in sending US his only begotteI
son "that whosoever believeth in hin
should not perish but have everlasting
life"
"Whoever feels the impulse of di