OceanSide church of Christ

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The Greatest of These is Love (5)
By: Dalton Gilreath

I.                Introduction

A.    We continue our series of the greatest command

                                                    i.     If I can live my life in accordance with 1 Corinthians 13 then I would be perfect

                                                   ii.     Love never fails but sometimes I fail to love and therefore I sin

B.    Last week we discussed not being puffed up

                                                    i.     Love is not arrogant or self-promoting

                                                   ii.     This morning we discuss the next two Greek verbs

1.     Love does not behave unseemly

2.     Love seeketh not her own

II.              Does not behave itself unseemly

A.    This term “unseemly” is used one other time and it’s in 1 Corinthians 7:36

                                                    i.     Paul discusses a husband acting uncomely to his young wife

                                                   ii.     The word means inappropriately, rudely, or improper

                                                 iii.     So love behaves properly

1.     But who gets to decide what is proper and what is not?

2.     Culture? Government? Man? Of course it’s God

B.    The Corinthian brethren were struggling with their behavior

                                                    i.     They were behaving rudely when it came to “fellowship meals” (1 Cor 11:21)

1.     They would grab their food and a lot of it without considering if everyone would be able to eat

2.     We can relate to those who might be rude during meals

a.     Some might cut in line or skip visitors

b.     Some might get two plates right off and the food run out

c.     Some might not bring food and eat too much as well

                                                   ii.     The Corinthians were also rude in worship (1 Cor 14)

1.     They would interrupt one another

2.     They would show off their ability to speak in tongues

3.     Things were not decent and in order (14:40)

C.    Jesus discusses behaving rudely as well (Luke 7:44-47)

                                                    i.     When He came to Simon’s house Simon did not greet Him, offer Him drink, or really acknowledge His presence

                                                   ii.     However, a sinful woman cried and poured oil on the Lord and washed His feet with her hair

1.     Jesus basically calls him a poor host

2.     Sometimes being rude means not doing something we should not just doing something we shouldn’t

3.     Also, notice that her behavior was proper because she was grateful for forgiveness

4.     When I appreciate Christ’s forgiveness it will affect my behavior

III.            Does not seek her own

A.    Love is not selfish, but selfless

                                                    i.     The Corinthians struggled with this one as well

                                                   ii.     Paul told them to seek other men’s good and not their own (1 Cor 10:24)

                                                 iii.     Jesus also taught this principle many times (Matt 20:26-28)

1.     Here is reveals that good leaders are servants

2.     If I want to be lifted up I put others before myself

                                                 iv.     Paul also taught us to put others above ourselves in other letters as well (Phil 2:4)

B.    This does not mean we do not need to love and care for ourselves as well

                                                    i.     Jesus said we are to love our neighbors the way we love ourselves (Matt 22:39)

1.     The necessary inference is we must love ourselves

2.     We should not neglect our bodies but shouldn’t be selfish either

                                                   ii.     Paul told men to love their wives and treat them as they would their own bodies (Eph 5:29)

                                                 iii.     We must take care of our body’s needs but put others before ourselves when it comes to their needs