I Corinthians 13:1-3
“If I speak with the tongues of mankind and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 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. And if I give away all my possessions to charity, and if I surrender my body so that I may glory, but do not have love, it does me no good.”
We all enjoy the art of speaking and singing. We listen to songs as well as enjoy listening to a good talk. This can be a good and wholesome experience. However, the first verse tells us it can be the opposite. A friend loves NPR. I understand the attraction. Those on that station seem smart and are articulate. It grieves me as many on that program aren’t God fearing. Quite the opposite, they seem to belittle that which we in the faith value. I think the nice voices, the well crafted speech attracts my friend. I may have been fooled if I hadn’t been redeemed. Because many on this program promote that which is hostile to that which we in the faith community value. They are in the enemies camp. It feels strange to say that, but it’s true. Some of that which they promote is the antithesis of faith. They are worse than a noisy gong. They are like the song of the siren which attracts the sea captain and leads him toward disaster. The great voice and the nice sounding talk can be bad.
The second verse speaks of the great gift of prophecy. The last verse of chapter 12 says we we should desire the greater gifts. One of the commentators identified prophecy as the greatest gift, as it is capable of edifying the greatest number of people. However, if not delivered in the spirit of love, the speaker benefits not at all. The same result comes to the person who has great faith so as to move a mountain, but doesn’t practice from a heart of love.
The next verse speaks of the one who gives great amounts. If that one doesn’t give from a heart of love, then he doesn’t benefit. The last example is the one who sacrifices his body, but doesn’t have love, then he doesn’t benefit.
These are all extreme examples which the world hails as great. However, when we look from the perspective of heaven it’s quite different. God values the motive of love, not the result of the action. The result may benefit many, but not the giver.
This gets our attention. An interesting aside, I heard a friend mention how hateful the apostle Paul was. Without comment I read the introductory verses of I Corinthians 13. He withdrew his charge. The primacy of love. Jesus reduced all of the commandments to two, love God and love others. Simple. Like for a child.
Much of our lives are actions. These often tell others what kind of a person we were. Not God. He sees the person of the heart. How will our lives fair by this test?
Being in Christ, God examines our hearts and motives (Psalm 139:1). God gives us His Word, the Bible. As we read it, God does His work in us. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
When we aren’t loving, God can point that out. Fortunately, God doesn’t highlight all our flaws at once. But He does purify our motives. We may be doing good things, but from a wrong heart. He purifies us.
Paul was powerfully gifted. However, he was on the wrong side. God chose him. Early in his faith journey God took him to a foreign land to learn of Him. God works on us also. From the inside out. He takes us from phonies to being 14 karat. Lord, help us to be loving.