WHAT MATTERS MOST IN LIFE

INTRODUCTION:
God is always good to His people. He has given us salvation and so many precious promises. His promises do not fail. The greatest gift that God has given to the Church is the gift of His love (John 3:16; Rom. 5:5).
His love works in us to reach out to the world (John 13:35). The church in Corinth missed out on what matters most in life, and that is love.
What matters most is not whether you possess some flashy gift or not.
What matters most is not how smart, wealthy, popular, famous, clever, educated you are.
What matters most is how well you love.
When you love like Christ loves, you have discovered what matters most.

Love’s distinction (1 Cor. 13:1-3).
Love is distinct and superior to anything else.
Love is higher than lofty speech (v.1).
Oratory, beautiful speech, rhetoric without love is simply a clanging cymbal!
Love is higher than the spectacular (v.2).
Love is higher than the sacrificial (v.3).
Love’s description (1 Cor. 13:4-12).

Love’s features (v.4-6).
(v.4) Suffereth long – long-tempered.
Love does not retaliate.
Jesus Christ did not (Luke 23:34; Isa. 53:7).
Stephen did not (Acts 7:54-60).
Abraham Lincoln did not retaliate on Edwin Stanton (he called him a gorilla of Springfield, yet Lincoln chose his own enemy to be Secretary of war).
Later at Lincoln’s funeral, Stanton said, “There lies the greatest ruler of men the world has ever seen.”
Love is kind (v.4). “Active goodness on behalf of others.”
Envieth not (v.4). Not jealous over abilities, successes, possessions of others.

Love is pleased when others do well.
It was jealousy that made Eve eat the fruit.
It was jealousy that put Daniel in the lions’ den.
It was jealousy that put Joseph in the pit.
Vauteth not itself (v.4) – “It does not parade.”
Is not puffed up – not arrogant or proud (v.4).
Does not behave itself unseemly – never rude.
Love seeketh not her own – never selfish.
Love is not easily provoked – keeps no record of wrongs suffered (Eph. 4:32).
Love thinketh no evil – takes no worthless inventory.
Does not attribute evil motives to people.
Love rejoiceth not in iniquity – love hates sin.
Biblical love hurts when others fall.
Biblical love hurts when others are injured.
Love rejoiceth in the truth – hates evil.
Love beareth, believes, hopes, endureth all things.
Love never fails – it is eternal (v.8-12).
Love’s durability (v.13).
Faith, hope, and love abide.
Faith and hope will not be needed in heaven.
Love remains.
God is love (1 John 4:8).

CONCLUSION:
To be like God, we must love like God.
Forget all other things you value: talent, intelligence, gifts, potential, achievements.
How well do you love?
Do you love God more than anything else? (Matt. 22:37-38).
Do you love others like God loves them? (Matt. 22:39-40).
Love is what matters most.