First Corinthians 13 is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable places in the Bible concerning the topic of love. Paul gives clear guidance as to why the Christian must love and what love looks like in action. As one reads 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, he will notice Paul telling us positively what love looks like and negatively what love does not look like. Discussing both sides of the coin can be helpful in gaining a comprehensive view of love.
Paul tells us, “Charity… seeketh not her own…” (KJV, 1 Cor. 13:4-5). In this short statement, the Christian witnesses the heart of love. Love does not seek its own. Love is selfless, and others focused. The Greek word that is translated seeketh is zeteo which denotes seeking, desiring, and going about. The Greek word translated as seeks, when Jesus tells us to ask, seek, and knock for the one who seeks finds, is zeteo. The word can also be used as a sign of worship toward God.
However, when someone seeketh his own way, he is going in the wrong direction. This is because his desires are set upon himself rather than the desires of God and others. Therefore, the one who is set on his own ways needs to learn to be others focused if he desires to grow in biblical love. Consequently, it is essential to consider what the Bible says about living to benefit others.
Seeking the good of others
First, we read of the need to seek the good of others. Scripture says, “Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth” (1 Cor. 10:24). To seek another man’s wealth is to seek the good of another. The context is that of eating food offered to idols. Eating food offered to idols was not wrong, for the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. Therefore, sinful practices could not pollute the food. Instead, the believer could partake with thankfulness.
However, for some, eating food offered to an idol became a matter of conscience. The Bible clarifies that it is a sin when someone goes against his conscience. Paul spoke of how a believer must be concerned about another man’s conscience. In the case of eating food offered to idols, the proper response was not to eat the food for the sake of the one with the weak conscience.
Why is all this important? Paul goes on to say, “Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that ye may be saved” (1 Cor. 10:33). Paul was concerned for the good of others with the goal of the salvation of the lost.
Caring for others
The Bible has more to say about living for the benefit of others. Elsewhere we read, “That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another” (1 Cor. 12:25). When Paul said he desired no schism in the body, he expressed his desire for no division. Thus, Paul longed for unity in the body of Christ.
We see that Paul linked unity to caring for others. Paul’s idea of caring for others was not simply intellectual or based on one’s thoughts. Caring for others was action-oriented. The Greek word translated as care is merimnao which denotes caring, taking thought of, or being anxious about. It essentially carries with it the implications of having a distracted care for others.
The same Greek word is used in the Sermon on the Mount when Jesus told us to take no thought for tomorrow. He was essentially speaking to a common problem where people were overly distracted with the cares of this life and their personal needs. However, we read that the Christian should be preoccupied with the cares of others but not the cares of self.
Building others up (Rom. 15:1-2)
Next, we can see that living for the benefit of others consists of building others up rather than self. Many people enjoy building themselves up. But the Bible tells us that the Christian must learn to build others up. Scripture says, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification” (Rom. 15:1-2). First, Paul tells us that the strong Christian is to help the weak Christian.
Next, we are told that the primary goal in seeking the benefit of another is for edification. The word edification carries with it the practice of building another up. It is essential to understand that building up strengthens the person being built up. Therefore, the Christian needs to build others up since this life has many challenges.
Previously in Romans 14:19, Paul told us that the Christian is to seek peace in his relationships with others and that which builds up. However, in Romans 15:1-2 we are introduced to the reality that sacrifice will be involved in building up others.
Another way of looking at the topic is that the Christian is to encourage his brother. Encouragement can go along way when properly applied. So often, people seek to tear others down. But a house divided against itself cannot stand. So the aim of the Christian should be encouragement and building up.
Serving others (Gal. 5:13)
Not only should the Christian seek the good of others, care for others, and build others up, but he should also learn to serve others. Scripture says, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another” (Gal. 5:13). The Christian has been liberated from the laws judicial punishment, outward ceremonial acts, and the curse. However, this freedom from the law should not cause the believer to give into his flesh. In other words, should the Christian sin since grace will abound? By no means, because the Christian has died to sin.
Instead, the Christian has been liberated for the sake of service. Elsewhere we read, “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Cor. 5:15). Before someone believes in Christ, the Bible tells us that someone is a slave to sin. Thus, the unbeliever serves sin and does not know how to do otherwise.
But when someone receives Christ, he dies to the law, which was the very thing that held him captive. The power of sin is broken. Thus the believer is no longer bound by sin and death. He is set free. However, he is set free to serve. Nevertheless, he will encounter one of the miraculous paradoxes of Scripture. In his slavery, he will find freedom.
Considering others interests (Phil. 2:4, 21)
Finally, we see that the Christian must look to the interests of others. Paul says, “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (Phil. 2:4). To look to the interests of others is to be active in seeking to know someone else. However, it goes beyond knowing someone to doing something about the knowledge.
For instance, when someone comes to know God, he will notice that God delights when the Christian reads the Bible. To know that God likes it when the Christian reads the Bible and not to do something about it is to be like the hearer of the word rather than the doer. The knowledge should be applied.
There is a significant difference between the man with knowledge and the wise man. It is the wise man who hears the words of God and applies them. Even the demons know what the Bible says but do not do it.
Therefore, the Christian must learn to act upon his knowledge to honor the Lord. He must learn to get to know the interests of others and lay down his own will in an act of humility for the benefit of another.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for the guidance You have given me on love. I see that to love as You loved is a high calling, and I need Your help. Please help me by the power of Your Spirit and the indwelling Christ. Jesus, would You be manifested in greater measure in my life and love through me? You alone can accomplish the Father’s will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.