1st Corinthians 13:4 Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity vaunts not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil.
[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 637>638] The wisdom and excellence revealed in the character and deportment, express the true beauty of the man; and it’s the inner worth, the excellency of the heart, that determines our acceptance with the Lord of hosts…. Another example of what is being spoken about can be observed in Christ’s encounter with the rich young ruler, who for all intents and purposes seemed to be doing the right things, when he asked Jesus that all important question: “what must I do to be saved.”
The answer Jesus gave him probably caused his face to beam with satisfaction, for Jesus replied that the commandments must be kept, in order to enter into eternal life. Yet, the ruler felt an unknown void deep down in his soul which he couldn’t explain nor could he satisfy. The problem is that doing right things externally is not the service or worship God is looking for, if one’s heart isn’t in a right relationship with Him.
His work in our hearts, via the Holy Ghost, involves bringing willing persons to that point where whatsoever we do will have its foundation in love to God, and love to our fellowman. In fact, even though everyone is encouraged to do the right thing, doing so, from a mere obligatory perspective will never, by itself, bring a person into fellowship with God, because God is a Spirit, and your heart has to be in it, before anything could be acceptable to Him.
1st Corinthians 13:6 Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 Bears all things, believeth all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!