1 Corinthians 13:1-7

1: If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2: If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
3: And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

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

*** 

Paul next revealed the “more excellent way” he had just mentioned when talking about the gifts. His discussion here dealt with the motivation and condition of a person’s heart who has, and functions in, gifts from God. If one speaks in a known or unknown tongue but doesn’t have love, they are nothing but a noisemaker. If one prophesies, knows all mysteries, has all knowledge, or all faith—even enough to move mountains—but doesn’t have love, he is nothing. Even if one sacrifices everything—his life and possessions—for a worthy cause, without love he does not profit from the act.

These are bold statements to say that gifts from God put into practice that do great things, reveal great truths, or benefit a good cause, are nothing without love. If they are done to glorify oneself instead of loving and serving others, there’s no profit in that gift. Who really knows the motives of one’s heart? God does. At times it may be obvious to some, or discerned by a few, but everyone should examine their own heart motives. Every believer should make the choice to yield to love. This love has been poured out within our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). We have it, we just need to choose it, on a regular consistent basis.

Paul then listed the attributes of love which describe a humble, kind, considerate, unselfish, unoffendable, righteous-loving, truth-loving, determined, strong, and patient person. Verses 4-7 are worth taking the time to ponder and meditate on. As we grow and mature in the Lord our spirit becomes more like His Spirit, our image more like Jesus, our desires more like the Father’s. The fruit of our born-again nature ripens and the gifts which God has given us do much to build and edify His church and kingdom. The Father is glorified.

Love will bring us into unity with the Father and the Son as Jesus described in *John chapters 14-17. We don’t do this with our own ability, or our own love. We love others with the love He has given us. We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). The more we receive and understand the Father’s love for us, especially revealed in Jesus’ sacrificial act on our behalf, the more this love fills our heart and overflows from us to others.



*Specifically, John 14:21-23; 15:9-10; 17:21-26


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