“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3, NKJV)

Image courtesy of Olive Tree Bible Software.

The believers in Corinth were impressed with the people who exercised the more spectacular spiritual gifts. The apostle Paul reminds them that no matter what gifts they have – tongues, prophecy, wisdom, knowledge, faith – if they lack love they are not merely insignificant, they are nothing! People may be very generous with their possessions and wealth that in the end they themselves become poor. One may be so faithful in his duty that he sacrifice his life. But without love he gained nothing.

The gift of speaking in different languages, of prophesying, of having all knowledge, of faith that can move mountains, of giving the last peso in your pocket to charity, even martyrdom – all of these are of no use unless we have love. What a call to self-examination!

References:

Halley, Henry H. Halley’s Bible Handbook. eFormat Pub. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2000.

MySword for Android. Riversoft Ministry, 2011-2019.

Olive Tree Bible Software, 1998-2020.

Published by Pastorbluejeans Unplugged

Friend of a Jewish Carpenter. View all posts by Pastorbluejeans Unplugged