The Greatest Of These

Feature 3 –July/August 2019 – Grace & Truth Magazine

The Greatest Of These

First Corinthians 13:13 says faith, hope and love abide now, but the greatest is love. Not just common friendship, love is the self-sacrificing devotion of the Lord Jesus. “The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost [Spirit] which is given unto us” (Rom. 5:5 KJV ). The Lord said, “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another” (Jn. 13:34-35).

The Holy Spirit
The Spirit of God works to bring us closer to the Lord Jesus and to help us to become like Him in our character. He leads us into all truth, showing us things to come and glorifying the Lord Jesus. The Spirit receives “of Mine” (Jn. 16:14), Jesus said, and He shows it to us. Paul wrote: “The Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God ... Which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth” (1 Cor. 2:10,13). In addition, Jesus said, “I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (Jn. 14:16-17).

There are many lovely and wonderful things which the Holy Spirit of God does for us, and we know and learn so much of what is hidden from the world. Moses wrote: “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever” (Dt. 29:29). Such things remain hidden to the world, for not having the Spirit of God they cannot possibly understand what He reveals to us. We are privileged, “but the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:14).

Contrasts One To The Other
Because of the Spirit, we may discern when things are of God or not of Him. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness” and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). These are linked to our emotions, as are the works of the flesh. Self-control has a wider reach over our personality and all our emotions.

The book of Proverbs gives us very strong advice as to our emotional life. For instance, it clearly shows we have the capacity to exercise control over our tendency to anger. “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city” (Prov. 16:32). It does not say that we should not be angry but that we should control it. The injustices, cruelty and hypocrisy in the world are reasons for Christian anger but not for the loss of self-control. Proverbs 15 shows how we should behave in a situation where anger may be involved: “A soft answer turneth away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger” (v.1). There is no need to start shouting if we disagree strongly with someone. Rational and gentle reasoning is how God would have us act (Isa. 1:18).

Proverbs also warns against drunkenness, clearly teaching that the choice to drink to excess or not is our own, certainly at the beginning. “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise” (Prov. 20:1).

Keeping Control
The control of our emotions and thought life is ours, and as we “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” we increase our ability to do so (2 Pet. 3:18). Paul explained how this can be put into practice: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Phil. 4:8).

The Lord Jesus taught that a lustful look is as adultery and that being angry without a cause is as murder (Mt. 5:21-22,27-28). This emphasizes how we all need to read the Bible regularly, concentrating on the passages and thinking deeply about them. The psalmist also expressed the principle of Paul’s instruction: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night” (Ps. 1:1-2).

Influence And Effects
Proverbs says regarding man, “As he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (23:7). We need to take our thought life seriously, including the spiritual, for it has an impact.

A person who has not drunk alcohol or taken drugs may act like they have done so – staggering, laughing or crying uncontrollably, or being in a trance. Barring a medical issue, some may claim that such individuals are under the influence of the Holy Spirit by His power. There are those who call this condition as being “drunk in the Spirit” or “slain in the Spirit.” Can these men or women really be under the Holy Spirit’s control or influence?

God does not make people into glove puppets for His Spirit to control. The fruit of the Spirit is self-control – for the believer to be under his own control in obedience to Him. If true self-control is lacking, then the power over these people is not of God.

There is a great deal said about the heart in Proverbs. It is linked to the will and is to be in control of the emotions. Sadly, the heart can also be given over to evil. God, our heavenly Father, counsels, “Let thine heart retain My words” (4:4). “My son, attend to My words; incline thine ear unto My sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (vv.20-23).

Remember what Jesus said: “Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment” (Mk. 12:30).

By Roger Penney