INTRODUCTION

1. How many things in life never fail?

   1. Material things are destined for failure.  Everything wears out, breaks, degrades, decays, or is consumed by use.  No one can depend on such things for long.

   2. People fail as well.  Our physical limitations cause us to be weak, sick, and subject to age and death. Our mental limitations cause us to be ignorant, forgetful, and incompetent.  Our spiritual shortcomings cause us sin and fall short of the glory of God.  In one way or another, we fail.

   3. As we see, failure abounds in this world.

2. The Scripture tells us of one thing that never fails, and that is love (1Cor. 13:8).  In this world of abundant failure, unfailing love is outstanding and amazing.  Therefore, let us consider the unfailing quality of love.

    

THE CONTEXT OF 1CORINTHIANS 13

1. Paul's treatise on love comes in the context of a lengthy discussion about spiritual gifts (1Cor. 12-14).

   1. The Christians at Corinth were divided, immature, and selfish (1Cor. 1:11; 3:1-4; 11:17-21).  These faults affected their use of miraculous spiritual gifts, such as speaking in tongues, prophesying, and healing (1Cor. 12:4-11).

   2. Paul instructed the Corinthians to use their gifts in an orderly manner for the edification of one another (1Cor. 14:26-40).

   3. In the midst of this instruction, Paul emphasized the governing principle of love as "a more excellent way" (1Cor. 12:31).

      1. Failure to love makes the greatest gifts and sacrifices worthless to those who exercise the gifts or make the sacrifices (1Cor. 13:1-3).  Therefore, love is a necessity.

      2. The characteristics of love are given in 1Corinthians 13:4-7:

         ⁴Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, ⁵does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, ⁶does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; ⁷bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

      3. The Corinthians' spiritual gifts would fail (as they did), but "love never fails" (1Cor. 13:8).  This makes love more valuable and desirable than any spiritual gift or temporal treasure.

      4. Love is even greater than faith and hope, for love never ceases (1Cor. 13:13).

2. If love was applied to govern the use of spiritual gifts, then we should apply love to govern all of our works as well.

   1. Consider this carefully.  If I "do not have love, I am nothing" (1Cor. 13:2).  If I "do not have love, it profits me nothing" (1Cor. 13:3).

      1. In other words, without love, I am nothing and have nothing.

      2. Who wants to be nothing?  Who wants to have nothing?  No one! Therefore, love is necessary for everyone.

      3. Furthermore, if you have love, then you are not nothing. With love, you are significant in the sight of God, and you have an exceptionally valuable commodity.

   2. We do not have miraculous spiritual gifts today, but each of us has talents, abilities, resources, and opportunities.  If we want to profit by these, then we must use them in love.

      1. Jesus said, ""A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another" (John 13:34).

      2. We have a mandate to speak the truth in love as we work together to edify the body of Christ in love (Eph. 4:14-16).

      3. If we have the world's goods, and the love of God abides in us, then we will use them to help our brothers and sisters in Christ who are in need (1John 3:17).

      4. Sincere love will move us to act in our God-given capacity and not merely to speak.  Notice 1John 3:18:

         Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.

   3. Love is the motivation that causes us to use our talents and resources not for selfish gain and indulgence but for the benefit of others and the glorification of God.

       

WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT LOVE NEVER FAILS?

1. Let us look carefully at the words in the statement "love never fails."

   1. In 1Corinthians 13:8, "love" is translated from the Greek word agapē.  This is an affection that manifests itself through active goodwill and benevolence.

   2. "Never" means just that -- never or not ever.  This word eliminates the possibility of an exception. Love will never fail, not even once.

   3. The word "fail" is from the Greek word piptō, which is most often translated as "fall."  It can have several meanings, so the meaning must be determined by context.  Consider the possibilities.

      1. Love never falls. It does not descend from its exalted position as the best of all traits and qualities.

      2. Love is never judged or condemned.  It is part of the fruit of the Spirit against which "there is no law" (Gal. 5:22-23).

      3. Love never decays or perishes.  It is a heavenly value that is unlike the earthly treasures which degrade (Matt. 6:19).

      4. Love never ceases. Faith and hope will be fulfilled and completed (Rom. 8:24; 2Cor. 5:7; Heb. 11:1), but love will continue.

      5. Love never loses its force or effectiveness.  It "bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things" (1Cor. 13:7).

      6. Love is never abolished.  No law will make it illegal or obsolete.  It will never be replaced with something else.

      7. By the context of 1Corinthians 13:8, love is not like the spiritual gifts of prophecy, speaking in tongues, or miraculous knowledge. These all ceased and were done away, but love will never be stopped.

2. Love never fails because God never fails.

   1. God is from everlasting to everlasting, and God is love. Notice 1John 4:16:

      We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us.  God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

   2. As long as there is God, there is also love.  God is forever, and therefore love lasts forever and never fails.

   3. Consider that love is a commodity that is obtained from God. Notice 1John 4:7:

      Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

   4. The commodity of love is an inexhaustible resource that emanates from the infinite God.  He is a deep well of love that never runs dry.

3. Don't misunderstand the unfailing nature of love.  Love never fails, but people do fail to love.

   1. "Love never fails" is truly a statement about God. He is love, and the capacity to give and receive love is always present through Him.

   2. However, many people do not love because they do not know God.  Notice 1John 4:8:

      The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

   3. Even Christians fail to love at times, but this does not mean that love has failed.  It means only that men have failed.

   4. Also, notice that some deeds are claimed to be acts of love, but they are not.  Falsely attributing a deed to love does not indicate that love has failed.  Once again, it only means that man has failed.

       

CONCLUSION

1. In a world of abundant failure, love offers confidence that nothing else can.  Love never, ever fails, and it is abundantly available to you through Jesus Christ.

2. Therefore, "pursue love" (1Cor. 14:1), which is the more excellent way.  Find love in the source of love, which is God, and make it your ambition to perfect unfailing love in your life.