Love is Our Greatest Calling
Scripture Passage: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (NASB)
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. 2 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. 3 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.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
SUMMARY
Paul tells the Corinth church that LOVE is the greatest of all, and should be the priority of every Christian. He explains in the prior passage, that we are given spiritual gifts by God. However, in this passage he emphasizes that all gifts are useless without LOVE. He describes in detail what love is and is not. He further explains that even the gifts of prophecy, tongues and knowledge are temporary and will come to an end. But LOVE is eternal and outweighs all as God showed us through Jesus. We are saved with eternal love of God, and love is the greatest value achieved in a relationship, the most important mission for Christians.
MEDITATION & REFLECTION
This is a well-known passage we often hear at weddings, but Paul wrote this description of love to the people of the Corinth church. He wrote it to help the Corinthians deal with problems they were having. In very detail, he describes what they should and should not do (v. 4-7). This is so hard, even as husband and wife, to follow. Can you imagine how stunned they must’ve been reading this?
I think most of us avoid each other when we have conflicts, especially at church. Afterall, it’s church, and we are supposed to love one another, right? He’s not talking about just being cordial or friendly on the surface, but to actually show love through actions. This is so challenging, yet very compelling as a believer who experienced God’s love. Like Paul declares, we are nothing if we don’t have love (v.13).
APPLICATION
I realized I have a lot of work to do. I see Paul’s point in writing this to the Corinth church. He saw that they had a lot of problems, but the root of it all was that they were lacking love. Our attitudes and behaviors are different towards people we love, aren’t they? We overcome our differences because of our love for the other person. It’s like a blanket that covers and protects us, and resets our hearts. We argue and fight over something, but we know that at the end we are there for each other.
I don’t really have conflicts with people at church, at least not that I am aware of. But I also wondered if I got used to being good at avoiding or ignoring conflicts. I will remember to reference back to this passage when I have conflicts or relationship issues, in church and outside of church. I will also focus on practicing patience first, since patience is the most difficult for me. I will wait, listen, and reflect before speaking and reacting.
PRAYER
Thank you, God for showing and letting me experience your love. Your “agape” love is everlasting, and is the greatest of all as you have shown me through Jesus. Thank you for teaching and reminding me today that everything is worthless without love, and that practicing love is my ultimate mission as your child. Please help me to remember and practice the attributes of love especially when there’s tension with others in Christ. Help me to activate the right attitude when dealing with difficult people, and help me have comfort by remembering that love bears and endures all things. In Jesus name I pray, Amen!
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