The Corinthians were highly gifted people. The members of their local church were gifted in speaking, knowledge, healing, faith, etc. Yet, it seems that their gifts were being used without love for others. To correct this, Paul finishes his chapter on the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12) with this statement, “But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all” (1 Corinthians 12:31 NLT).
Please read our passage for today:
If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NLT
I Corinthians 13 starts with a denunciation of the Corinthians for their lack of love and begins to teach them a better way of living. In his response to their letter, Paul uses some of their own words to guide them away from boasting about their gifts. For instance, to their statements that they could speak in tongues, Paul says, “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” (1 Corinthians 13:1).
In essence, Paul said, "It’s admirable that you have excellent speaking gifts, but because you aren’t loving others, you sound like an irritating cowbell.” Great speeches, speaking in tongues, etc., if used apart from the desire to build up the body, if used without genuine love for other people, grates on people and is as useful as a noisy gong or clanging cymbals.
When Jesus Christ came to this earth, He spoke and taught in a way no one had ever heard before. He “taught with authority” (Matthew 7:29) and “no man ever spoke like this man” (John 7:46), as gracious words streamed from His lips (Psalms 45:2). Yet it was the way He loved that captured the hearts of millions of people throughout the ages. There is no greater love than the love Jesus displayed when He died on the cross for our sins. “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13 NLT).
Question 2. What are the gifts Paul lists in 1 Corinthians 13:2?
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Question 3. In 1 Corinthians 13:2, what does Paul say he would be if he exercised all these gifts without love?
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Love is everything! Without it, we are nothing! Even if we had many gifts of the Holy Spirit, without love, those gifts would amount to nothing and would not build up the body of Christ.
It’s possible the Corinthians were boasting about how they gave financially to help others, giving of their resources to the poor, helping those who were less fortunate. Yet it is equally clear that they were doing so in order to boast, to draw attention to themselves, or to gain merit with God. But Jesus said, “When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get” (Matthew 6:2 NLT).
Paul makes a contrast between the Corinthians' giving and Jesus’ sacrifice. The Corinthians may have been giving to such an extent that it was a real sacrifice for them, but if done without love, it gained them nothing.
In contrast, when Jesus died on the cross, it was because of His love that He shed His blood and sacrificed His body to pardon you and me of all sin and make us right with God. His loving sacrifice gained Him millions of followers who, smitten by His love, have determined to follow Him all the days of their lives, even to death.
Clearly, we can see that love is “best of all!” (1 Corinthians 12:31). It’s the way of Jesus. It’s the way of the cross.