No. 802
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.” (2 Cor. 13:5)
It seems impossible to describe love, this wonderful quality without which nothing is acceptable in the sight of God! In his treatise on love (1 Cor. 13), the Apostle did not attempt to define love, but contented himself with giving us some of its manifestations.[1] Those who possess a love with such characteristics are able to appreciate it, but not able otherwise to explain it. Like life and light, love is difficult to define, and our best endeavors to comprehend it are in terms of its effects. Love is of God; it is god-likeness in the heart, tongue, action, and thought – supervising and seeking to control all our human qualities. Where love is lacking, the results are more or less evil; where love is present, the results are good according to the degree of love present.
For the Christian, an outward manifestation of amiability, meekness, gentleness, patience, etc., is not sufficient, either in God’s sight or in his own. These graces must be produced by the spirit of love filling and expanding within his own heart. Many of the graces of the Spirit are recognized by the unregenerate and are imitated as marks of good breeding, and in many cases are successfully worn as a cloak or mask, covering hearts and sentiments wholly antagonistic to the holy spirit of love.
The amount of our appreciation of divine love will be the amount of our zeal in conforming our characters to the divine pattern. A naturally rough, uncouth, and depraved disposition may require a long time after the grace of divine love enters the heart before that grace is manifest in all outward thoughts, words, and acts. Others with a gentler disposition and good training may have many outward refinements without having the grace of God within. Only He who reads the heart is competent, therefore, to judge as to who have and who have not received this grace, and of the degree of its development in their hearts. Each one may judge himself, however, and should seek to let the light of love shine out in all communications with his fellow-creatures, thus glorifying his Father in Heaven and showing forth the praises of He who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Pet. 2:9)
Among the “gifts” of early Apostolic times, “prophecy” (oratory) was highly regarded. Knowledge of the mysteries of God was also highly regarded, and having a large faith was reckoned as being among the chief of Christian requirements, hence the Apostle Paul’s counsel to “examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith.” Yet we are not to understand that one could have a knowledge of the deep mysteries of God without having the Holy Spirit of Love: “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God . . . even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” (1 Cor. 2:10-11) The Apostle declared that if he possessed all of these gifts in their fullest measure, and love were absent, he would be nothing – he would not be a member of the New Creation at all, since love is the very spirit of the begetting to the new nature. (1 Cor. 13:1-3)
In the measure of character, therefore, we are to put love first, and to consider it the chief test of our nearness to and acceptance with the Lord. Let each apply the test to himself: Whether I am something or nothing in God’s estimation is to be measured by my love for Him, for His brethren, for His cause, for the world in general, and even for my enemies, rather than by my knowledge, or fame, or oratory. What a wonderful test this is!
Nothing in the Apostle’s treatise on love signifies that one should neglect the caring for and providing in every way for those dependent upon him by family ties, in order that he may do good to others. In every sense, “Love begins at home.” The proper thought, as we gather it, is that men and women, possessed of the spirit of perfect love, would not think exclusively of their own interests in any of the affairs of life. Put into exercise, this element of love would have a great influence upon all the affairs of life, inside as well as outside the home and family.
LOVE IS KIND
Having given us such a conception of the importance of love, the Apostle proceeded to describe what it is and what it is not – how it operates or conducts itself and how it does not. Let us each examine ourselves and inquire within.
Have I the love described thus by the Apostle: “Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.” (1 Cor. 13:4, ASV) Have I such love, especially for the household of faith, as leads me to suffer considerably and for a long time, and yet to be kind? Am I patient with the weaknesses and imperfections of those who give any evidence of good intentions? Am I patient even with those who err, realizing that the great Adversary blinds the minds of the masses, remembering that this manifestation of love was very prominent in our Lord Jesus, who was patient with His opponents?
Do I seek to guard my manner and tone of voice, knowing that they greatly impact every affair of life? Does the mark of love pervade my actions, words, and thoughts? Do I think of and am I considerate of others? Do I feel and manifest kindness toward them in word, in look, in act? A Christian, above all others, should be kind, courteous, gentle in the home, in his place of business, among the brethren – everywhere. To the degree perfect love is attained, the constant effort of the heart will be to have every word and act, like the thought which prompts them, full of patience and kindness. With the child of God these qualities are not to be mere outward adornments. They cannot be; on the contrary, they are fruits of the Spirit – the results of having come into fellowship with God, having learned of Him, receiving His Spirit of holiness, of love.
Have I the love that “envieth not,” the love that can see others prosper and rejoice in their prosperity, even if my own affairs are not so prosperous? This is true generosity, the very reverse of jealousy and envy, which spring from a debased nature. The root of envy is selfishness – it will not grow upon the root of love. Love rejoices with those who rejoice. It rejoices in the prosperity of every good word and work.
Do I have the love that is humble, that “vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up”? Do I have the love that tends to modesty and is not boastful? Do I have the love that prompts to good deeds, whether or not seen of men, but that would be done the same if no one saw or knew but God only? Do I have the love that humbly acknowledges that every good and perfect gift comes from the Father and seeks to repay Him in love and service? The Spirit of the Lord is the spirit of a sound mind. It seeks to esteem others generously, while also soberly estimating self, not thinking too highly of one’s character and attainments.
LOVE THINKS NO EVIL
Have I the love that: “Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil?” (1 Cor. 13:5) Pride is the root out of which grows much of the unseemly conduct or impoliteness so common to those who consider themselves to be somebody, either intellectually or financially. Politeness and courtesy have been defined as love in little things. Politeness may either be on the surface or from love in the heart. As Christians, we are to have the heart-love which will prompt us to acts of kindness and courtesy, not only among the household of faith, but in our homes and in our dealings with the world.
Do I have I the love which is unselfish, which seeks not its own interests exclusively, which might even be willing to let some of its own rights be sacrificed in the interests of others? Or do I have, on the contrary, the selfishness which not only demands my own rights on every occasion, but which demands those rights regardless of the conveniences, comfort and rights of others? To have such love means being on guard against taking any unjust advantage of others, preferring rather to suffer a wrong than to do a wrong – preferring to suffer an injustice than to do an injustice.
Do I have the love which is good tempered and not “easily provoked” to anger? Do I have the love that enables me to see both sides of a question, that gives me the spirit of a sound mind? Do I have the love which enables me to see that exasperation and violent anger are not only unbecoming but injurious to those toward whom they are directed, and also injurious in their effect upon my own heart and body?
There may be times when love needs to be firm, almost inflexible, where principles are involved and where valuable lessons are to be taught. This might come under the heading of anger when that word is used in the proper sense of righteous indignation exercised for a loving purpose – for doing good. But it should only be exercised in this manner for a time, and we should see to it that we do not sin either with our lips, or in our hearts. At no time may we entertain any but loving and generous sentiments toward those who are our enemies, or toward those of our friends whom we would assist, instruct, or correct.
To be “easily provoked” means having a bad temper, being touchy, and quick to take offense. This is wholly contrary to the spirit of love; and whoever is on the Lord’s side and seeking to be pleasing to Him should closely guard himself against this prevalent condition of our day. To whatever extent this disposition is willingly harbored or not fought against, it becomes evidence of a deficiency in our development in Christian character and of a deficiency in our likeness to our Lord Jesus. Of all the manifestations of a wrong spirit, very few are rationalized and excused as much this spirit of irritability and touchiness. Every heart filled with the Lord’s Spirit must oppose this disposition to evil in his flesh, and must wage a good warfare against it, despite however much natural character flaws, heredity, and bad influences may incline us toward this behavior.
It will not do to say, “It is my way,” for all the “ways” of the fallen nature are bad; and it is the business of the Christian to overcome the old nature in this as well as other works of the flesh and the Devil. There are few ways we can better show our friends and households the power of the grace of love than by doing so. This grace, as it grows, should make every child of God sweet-tempered. In no way can we better show forth the praises of Him who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light than by the exhibition of the spirit of love in the daily affairs of life.
Have I the spirit of love which “thinketh no evil,” which is not suspicious of evil or looking for faults in others, not attributing evil motives to them? Have I the love which seeks always to interpret the conduct of others charitably, to make all possible allowance for errors in judgment rather than to impugn the motives of the heart? Perfect love is good intentioned itself, preferring to view the words and conduct of others as being good intentioned. It does not treasure up animosities and suspicions, nor manufacture a chain of circumstantial proofs of evil intentions out of trivial affairs. “Faults are thick where love is thin” is a very wise proverb.
While love passes over offenses and holds no grudges, this does not mean that love would treat evil-doers in precisely the same manner that it would treat those who do good. It might be proper or even necessary to take some notice of the offenses and distance ourselves from those persons, but no hatred, malice or strife should be manifested. The manifestation of kindness and gentleness leaves the door of opportunity open for a full reconciliation and shows a willingness to forgive and forget the wrong.
LOVE REJOICES IN TRUTH
Have I the love that: “Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth?” (1 Cor. 13:6) Are the principles of right and wrong firmly fixed in my mind, and am I thoroughly in accord with right and thoroughly out of harmony with wrong? Am I grieved with evils wherever encountered and sympathize with all who fall into evil or who are beset with temptations? Am I so opposed to wrong that I would not encourage it even if it brought advantage to me? Am I so in accord with right, with Truth, that I could not avoid rejoicing in the Truth and in its prosperity, even if it overturned some of my preconceived opinions, or jeopardized some of my earthly interests?
Everyone who seeks to develop the spirit of perfect love in his heart should carefully guard the sincerity of his motives as well as the uprightness of his conduct. The least suggestion of rejoicing at the fall of any person or thing even slightly representing righteousness or goodness is to be deplored and overcome. Perfect love “rejoiceth not in iniquity” under any circumstance or condition and would have no satisfaction in the fall of another but only sorrow, even if the fall would mean his own advancement.
The love of God, which the Apostle here described as the spirit of the Lord’s people, is far above all selfishness and is based upon fixed principles which should, day by day, be more distinctly discerned and always firmly adhered to at any cost. Love can take no part in error, however profitable, and cannot desire the reward of evil. It takes pleasure in the Truth – truth upon every subject, and especially in the Truth of divine revelation, however unpopular it may be and however much persecution and loss of the friendship of this world its advocacy may involve. The spirit of love has such an affinity for the Truth that it rejoices to share loss, persecution, distress or whatever may come against the Truth or its servants. In the Lord’s view it is all the same whether we are ashamed of Him or ashamed of His Word of Truth. He declared that He will be ashamed of those who are ashamed of Him when He comes to be glorified with His saints. (Matt. 10:33)
LOVE PERSEVERES
Have I the love that: “Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things?” (1 Cor. 13:7) Do I have the love that is impregnable against the assaults of evil, that resists evil, impurity, sin and everything that is contrary to love? Do I have love that is both able and willing to endure reproaches, reproofs, insults, losses, misrepresentations and even death for the cause of God? “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4) The very life and center of that faith is the Holy Spirit of Love for the Lord and for those that are His and, sympathetically, for the world. Perfect love can bear up under all circumstances and, by God’s grace, bring us off conquerors and “more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” (Rom. 8:37)
Do I have the love that is unwilling to impute evil to another unless forced to do so by indisputable evidence? Do I have love that would rather believe good than evil about everyone? Do I have love that would take no pleasure in hearing evil, but would be disposed to resent it? Perfect love is disposed to be trustful, acting on the principle that it is better, if necessary, to be deceived a hundred times than to go through life soured by a suspicious mind – far better than to accuse or suspect even one person unjustly. This is the merciful disposition described by the Master when He said, “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” (Matt. 5:7) The unmerciful, unbelieving mind is father to unmerciful conduct toward others.
Have I the love that perseveres under unfavorable conditions, and continues to hope for and to labor for those who need my assistance? Have I the love that endures and continues to hope for the best and strive for the best? Perfect love is not easily discouraged. This is the secret of love’s perseverance: having learned of God, and having become a partaker of His holiness, it trusts in Him and hopes undismayed for the fulfilment of His gracious Covenant, however dark the immediate surroundings.
This hopeful element of love is one of the striking features in the perseverance of the saints, enabling them to endure hardness as good soldiers. Its hopeful quality hinders it from being easily offended, or easily stopped in the work of the Lord. Where others would be discouraged or prone to flee, the spirit of love gives endurance, that we may war a good warfare, and please the Captain of our salvation. Love’s hopefulness knows no despair, for its anchorage enters into that which is beyond the veil, and is firmly fastened to the Rock of Ages.
Beloved, let us with all our getting, get love – the love whose roots are in the new heart, begotten in us by our Heavenly Father’s love, and exemplified in the words and deeds of our dear Redeemer. All else sought and gained will be but loss and dross unless, with all, we secure love! “But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.” (1 Cor. 13:13, ASV)
(Based on Reprint 4917.)
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“GROW IN GRACE”
“Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” (2 Pet. 3:17-18)
There is a touching tenderness in the epistles of the aged Apostle Peter to the household of faith. While he realized that the time of his departure was drawing nigh (2 Pet. 1:14; John 21:18-19), his solicitude for the growth and development of the Church was increasing. Accordingly, he wrote two general epistles, not so much to advance new truth, as to call to remembrance truths already learned and fully received (2 Pet. 1:12-15), and to counsel all to be faithful and to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
In the verses preceding our opening text, he had been calling to mind some of these truths, and he recognized the fact that those addressed were already established in them. He knew, however, that false teachers would arise to pervert the Truth, and he counseled special watchfulness against being led away from their present steadfastness by the error of the wicked. That this counsel of the Apostle has a special application to the Church in the last days is made clear: “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts.” (2 Pet. 3:3)
Note how the Apostle would have us guard against being led away by the error of the wicked. He did not counsel us to carefully investigate all the claims put forth by every new false prophet that arises, thus giving heed to every seducing spirit. (1 Tim. 4:1) That course would be quite contrary to the teaching of St. Paul, who gave no uncertain counsel on this subject: “But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker.” (2 Tim. 2:16-17; see also Rom. 16:17-19)
Peter’s words echoed Paul’s wise and earnest counsel. To heed seducing doctrines that are contrary to the doctrine we have already received from the Lord and the Apostles indicates a lack of faith in those doctrines. Whoever does so is not established in the faith. Some think that it is neither necessary nor advisable to be established in the faith, suggesting that to be established is to be a bigot. That is true if one is so biased as to accept and tenaciously hold that which he has never proved either by sound logic or Bible authority. But he is not an unreasoning bigot who, in simple faith and on the authority of God, accepts the Word of God. Only those who do so are established in the Truth. The difference between the strong and steadfast Christian and a bigot is that the one is established in the Truth, while the other is established in error.
The former knows the Truth, and the Truth has made him free from all doubts and misgivings, and from all desire to delve into the muddy pool of human speculations. To all such Paul said, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Col. 2:6-8)
Peter’s counsel is in fullest harmony with these sentiments of “our beloved brother Paul.” His advice is to not waste valuable time investigating “the error of the wicked,” but to instead endeavor to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who is the way, the Truth, and the life. The more thorough our knowledge of the Lord and the more intimate our acquaintance with Him, the more secure we are in our own steadfastness.
To grow in grace is to grow in favor with the Lord through an intimate personal acquaintance and fellowship of spirit with Him. It is the knowledge and recognition of our redemption through his precious blood and a personal faith in the promises of the Father made to us through him. It is an intimate communion with Him in our daily life of prayer, observation of his will, and obedience to it. If we maintain this constant attitude of mind and heart, a constant ripening of the fruits of the spirit will result, rendering us more and more pleasing and acceptable to our Lord, in fulfilment of His blessed promise: “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” (John 14 :23)
To grow thus in grace and not grow in knowledge is impossible. The very object of such communion is to build us up in a more perfect knowledge and acquaintance with the Lord – to bring us into closer fellowship with the divine plan, and to give us the privilege of being “workers together with him” in executing that plan. If we love and obey the Lord and desire to grow in His favor, His written Word is our daily meditation and study.
We do not grow in knowledge by finding out that what we learned last year was false, but by adding to what we learned last year. We thus put on more and more of the armor of God until we realize its glorious completeness in the full discernment of the divine plan of the ages. We are then ready to do valiant service for the cause of Truth in withstanding the encroachment of error. (Eph. 6:10-13) We are established, strengthened, and settled in the faith. (1 Pet. 5:10) Even those thus established in the faith will have abundant opportunity to grow in knowledge as they discover new lines of harmony and beauty in the divine plan of the ages.
Our beloved brother Peter, zealous for our growth in knowledge, endeavored to inspire us thereto, by calling our attention to the wonderful events and the close proximity of the day of the Lord: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night [unobserved by the world]; in the which the heavens [present ecclesiastical powers] shall pass away with a great noise [tumult and confusion], and the elements [of society] shall melt with fervent heat, the earth [society] also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” (2 Pet. 3:10)
This will not be a literal fire but, as described by the Prophets, the fire of divine jealousy. (Zeph. 1:18; Zeph. 3:8) The noise and tumult, which will eventually result in world-wide anarchy, are already distinctly heard in every nation. The day of the Lord has indeed begun, and the heat of human passion is growing more and more intense daily, and the great Time of Trouble is very near.
The Apostle then asked: “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” (2 Pet. 3:11-12) Let us indeed take this solemn question to heart. These words were addressed to God’s people more than nineteen centuries ago and served a purpose for good all throughout this Gospel Age, but they are especially pertinent to those who are living in this very Day of God.
Unlike the rest of the world, we know of the divine plan: “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (2 Pet. 3:13) We look for the Kingdom of God (new heavens) to be established in power and great glory. We look for a new social order (a new earth) under the rulership of Christ and His glorified bride. What blessed assurance! How favored we are above the people of the world who do not have this knowledge!
“Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” (2 Pet. 3:14) In the book of Jude, we are reminded that the Lord, in whose grace and knowledge Peter desired us to grow, can keep us from stumbling: “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 24)
(Based on Reprint 3215.)
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[1] The word translated “charity” in the KJV is from the Greek word agape, meaning true, unselfish love.