Love the greatest gift

Introduction

Last week, we took a deeper dive into the spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit for the edification of the Church, and ultimately to be living testimonies of the truth in the world, bringing glory to God Almighty.

Today, we come to the very core of it all, which can be summarized in one and only word: Love (or charity in some translations). Love is God’s very nature. He is not like the gods and divinities of the earth, made of wood or plaster. Our God is the Creator of the universe. He gives life, saves souls, cares for us, and preserves us unconditionally through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:30 - 1 Corinthians 13:31

1 Corinthians 13 is deeply meaningful because it describes exactly what the supreme way is that should be exercised within the Church of Christ, and what believers should mutually expect in terms of brotherly relationships, fellowship, sacrificial love, and true discipleship. 

As chapters and verses in the Bible came only later in history, this letter was originally written as one continuous piece. When Paul explains the fullness of love, we understand that this was, and still is, for us as believers in Christ, a crucial and extremely important message.

As the Apostle Paul writes in his letter, with a tone that exposes the arrogance, pride, and selfishness of the Corinthians, love is to be considered the greatest of all. Even though love is not listed among the spiritual gifts, it is, in fact, the first fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). By extension, it is the essential attitude in which every spiritual gift must operate. In that sense, love surpasses all gifts, because without it, every gift is worthless. Love is the clearest and most visible evidence that the Holy Spirit truly dwells within us.

The ability to love our neighbor, and even our enemy, as ourselves is nothing less than the work of the Holy Spirit. Human depraved nature cannot sustain this kind of love. At best, we may show some help, some consideration, some kindness, or some tenderness, but it is always temporary, often driven by self-interest, and it does not last.

This is merely human effort. And once we feel we have not received our “dose” of love, we begin to complain, blame, judge, and react negatively. Our hearts are by nature deceitful, selfish, and driven by our own desires and needs. That is the hard truth. In fact, this is not the love that reflects God’s divine nature, the love that is given unconditionally, without expecting anything in return.

Paul’s demonstration

1 Corinthians 12:31 « But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And yet, I am going to show you a far better way. »

I’ve included the last verse of the previous chapter to help us understand that the Apostle Paul was addressing serious, heavy issues in the Corinthian congregation. These words were chosen to redirect the reader’s attention and give a sense of Paul’s pastoral urgency, not to say with exasperation.

He exhorted them to genuinely desire what is most excellent for God and for others, dedicating themselves fully to discover and use the spiritual gifts God had given. Paul was writing to them, but at the same time his words speak directly to us as well today.

In our day it might sound like: “Now I’m going to show you what is truly the gift of God,” or, “Let me tell you something straight,” or even, “All the things you’ve been asking for are nothing compared to what I am about to say, listen to this.”

In other words, to show them a better way was to tell them politely how to do in a correct way

1 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 »

Paul is here emphasizing his point by using a form of hyperbole in the way he writes, it is an intentional exaggeration to make his message stronger. For example, when Jesus said, “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out,” people did not literally do this. Or when we say, “I’ve told you a million times,” it is understood as a figure of speech. In the same way, Paul used these words to help and convince the Corinthians that there was a huge gap between what they were doing and true Christian practice.

When Paul continues by saying that even if he speaks the languages of men or of angels, but does not have love, then what is he really writing to them about? Were they actually speaking angelic languages? Not at all, it is a figure of speech. Paul is saying that even if one could speak with angels or with any supernatural being, none of it would be pleasing to God if love were not the main purpose.

This whole passage explains the comparison between the “good” or even “bad religious” spiritual practices of the Corinthians, which often reflected self-exaltation and created a kind of outward piety, a form of spiritual hypocrisy. Such practices seemed to be more “valued,” appearing impressive and giving a sense of higher “moral” standing compared to the ordinary moral values of the world. Yet from a heavenly perspective, they carry no true power if love is not their root.

And he continues, “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.” Even if I had ALL knowledge of the mysteries of God, and even the greatest faith in the universe, the kind that removes mountains, without love, I am NOTHING. In Greek, the word outhen means ‘no one, none, nothing’. 

Paul affirms here with great force: without love, even the highest gifts and achievements make me nothing before God.

« 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 »

Once again, Paul gives another powerful and extreme example to expose self-righteousness, the show-giver example. Even if we were to give all our possessions to charity, meaning everything to the needy, or even surrender our bodies as martyrs for the church, these radical actions would still be in vain and only for self-glory if love were not the central focus. Then even the most radical sacrifice would carry no eternal weight and would bring no heavenly reward before God.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 «Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own  benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.» Slide 3

Paul was not writing to give a poetic touch to a special day; he was shocked to see the Corinthians fighting over futile things, while complete chaos was going on in the church, and the most important spiritual manifestation was missing among them: the love for one another.

Now what Paul is showing us today is the way that love should work among our dear brothers and sisters in Christ. He gives us an exhaustive list that contrasts the manner of the world with the manner of a child of God.

Let us now go through all the words that describe what love truly is and seek to understand their meaning.

Patience: Love is patient with others, acting with care. It also means trusting God’s promises, waiting faithfully, and wisely.

Kindness: Love shows itself through caring, gentleness, and helpful actions for one another.

Not jealous: Love is thankful to God provision, does not compare itself to others.

Not boastful: Love always demonstrates modesty and is not prideful.

Not arrogant: Love is humble and does not expresses egocentric behavior.

Does not act disgracefully: Love is honorable in conduct, including the use of money and words.

Doesn’t seek its own benefit: Love is generous, hospitable, and not selfish.

Not easily provoked: Love is peaceful, does not stir up anger or create hurtful situations.

Does not keep a record of wrongs suffered: Love forgives readily, relies on God’s justice.

Does not rejoice in unrighteousness: Love rejoices only righteousness and truth.

Keeps every confidence: Love is trustworthy, marked with integrity and sincerity.

Believes all things: Love is open-hearted and not suspicious.

Hopes all things: Love hopes for God’s goodness in every situation, and in Christ’s return, the Hope of Glory

Endures all things: Love is strong, keeps its eyes on Jesus, and perseveres to finish the race.

1 Corinthians 13:8-13 «Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with. For we know in part and prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away with. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, and love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.»

Love never fails means that whatever we have to experience in life, love is the ultimate weapon against the reaction of the flesh and against the numerous traps of the enemy. If we continually put ourselves in a minor position, walking in humility, we can manifest love according to the fruit of the Spirit. If love is expressed in humility and in caring for the persons involved, even in the midst of consequences, then the Spirit of the living God is at work within us.

Paul now categorizes love as first among all the spiritual gifts, even though it was not listed in chapter 12. He explains that the gift of prophecy will come to an end, the gift of tongues will cease, and the gift of knowledge will also pass away, because all God’s truth has been given only in part and not in its fullness, due to the limitation of human understanding. All the spiritual gifts are therefore incomplete and temporary, but the fullness, “the perfect”, will come only when we see God face to face.

Paul also speaks about the way a child lives, comparing it with the life of a man, an adult. He is saying that the Corinthians had to become more mature in both their physical and spiritual life, embracing more the Christlike image. This passage also shows us that we must seek God’s will for our lives, leaving behind our past and growing in the newness of life.

The human heart tends to seek personal benefit in every situation, to live a pleasant life of comfort or stability in this world. And this is understandable, God knows it well. If we have a family and many responsibilities, we try to build a well-balanced life, and this is good; God knows it too. But the question is: are we living as testimonies of the true God, in love for one another? We all face difficulties and unexpected situations, it is true, but how do we react to them?

When the next season comes, yes, the one that calls us to step up in faith, we must also rejoice in going through such times. Whether we are questioning ourselves or facing trials, these moments will always be beneficial for our spiritual growth, and above all, for the growth of our love with the help of our dear brothers and sisters.

The message today is to enlighten our conscience, to wake us up, and to realign us with God’s will. This is what we are supposed to be doing now. God is patient; His definition of time is not ours, for with God one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. Yet our time is running short, so let us experience together what true love is.

Reading the Word of God and gathering with our dear brothers and sisters is essential for our sanctification, our transformation, our spiritual growth, for increasing our knowledge of who God is, and for discovering our true purpose in life. For we are all called to plant the good seeds of the Gospel of salvation, to bring souls into the Kingdom of God, so that we may gain our reward in Heaven.

Conclusion

To restore us from our wicked ways and confront our sinful hearts, God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from absolute spiritual blindness and to reconcile us to Himself. He also sent us the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to guide us into all truth and to distribute spiritual gifts so that we may love one another and bring glory to God in who we are. Furthermore, He gave us His Word to be our light on the path of life, teaching us how to navigate a world full of temptations and darkness.

Today, if you do not yet know the love of Christ, you are invited to let the Holy Spirit convict you and to believe that Jesus Christ came to save you. And if you are already a child of God, redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, you are invited to let the Holy Spirit minister to you in a more powerful and deeper way than ever before, so that His love may abound in you.

In both cases, God loves us and desires us to be reconciled to Him. Today, believe in Jesus Christ, and let Him be your Lord and Savior, showing you the real love that the world cannot give.