If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NIV
If you’re anything like me, you have read this passage of scripture so many times you can nearly quote it verbatim. But humor me and try to do the impossible. Read it again and try to take it in as if you were reading it for the very first time. Analyze this with me….
Paul begins by comparing love to five different spiritual gifts. Tongues, prophecy, knowledge, faith, giving. His point is that these spiritual gifts, even in their most spectacular, most dramatic form, mean nothing unless they are motivated by love.
Look at it. “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels…” 1 Corinthians 13:1 NLT If I could speak the language of supernatural beings, those in the very presence of God, even if I have that kind of linguistic gift, without love it’s just noise. Awful noise at that.
If I have the gift of prophecy… look at it from the Amplified version. “And if I have the gift of prophetic powers (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all secret truths and mysteries…” 1 Corinthians 13:2 Amplified Isn’t that prophecy in its ultimate form? Could Paul describe prophecy in any grander way? And yet without love, it’s nothing.
And if I possess all knowledge and I have faith that will move the mountains, faith that will move the hand of God – “but I have not love (God’s love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody.)” 1 Corinthians 13:2 Amplifed “If I give all that I possess to the poor, and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:3 NIV If I give everything to the poor in an incredibly sacrificial way - it means nothing unless motivated by love. Then Paul presents the ultimate sacrifice of giving – if I surrender my body to be burned… Here Paul is making reference to the suffering of martyrdom -- the burning at the stake, which many early Christians faced. Even this ultimate sacrifice, this total commitment to the cause, means nothing without love.
How important is love? Chris Tiegreen wrote - Without love, Godly things aren’t very godly. Paul says that it’s love that makes our spiritual gifts worthwhile. It’s love that is at the very foundation of our faith, of our relationship with God.
A couple of weeks ago, I challenged you to give yourself a spiritual check-up. A spiritual assessment. So, here’s the test: How well do you love God and the people around you? 1 John 4:7-8 NASB says “Beloved, let’s love one another; for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” That is an Intense scripture, an intense statement. It is confronting. Love is the litmus test to see if my faith is real. Showing love validates my faith.
The Apostle Paul concludes his discourse on love by saying, “Let love be your highest goal.” 1 Corinthians 14:1 Is love your highest goal? Search your heart.