PLEASE READ THIS THROUGH FIRST!
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
2 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.
3 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.4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13, NKJV
The first three verses of this chapter discuss the “things” I can do in the flesh to help others. To improve the lives of people around me.
Tongues of Men & Angels
Verse 1
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.”
Men
One of my favorite people in pop culture and fame is Nick Vujicic. If you are unfamiliar with him, he is an Australian born motivational speaker. An amazing individual who was born with a rare condition called tetra-amelia syndrome. This causes a person to be born with no legs or arms. He has changed people’s lives as he portrays someone who, literally, did not let the worst imaginable conditions keep him from being an incredible success. To which he credits God. What a joy just to know there are people like him in the world! But what are his motives?
Angels
The word angel here references the messenger characteristic of angels. Angels bring the Words of God. Can you just picture Mary as Gabriel stood before her? I mention this because that is basically what was going on. An angel was delivering a message directly from the Father. Such a powerful scene. Can you imagine having an angel appear before you in the physical? “Hey, so God wanted me to drop by and bring you up to speed on some things.”
Supernatural Gifts
Verse 2
“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.”
Prophecy
The gift of prophecy is talked about in both chapter 12 and chapter 14. This is definitely one of the most important gifts, as Paul repeatedly points out. How great would my witness to strangers be if God granted me the understanding of their past, present, and future? The moment I “read their mail” they would want to know all about how. And then I show them God.
Understanding Mysteries
The Bible is full of mystery. God is full of mystery. One of my most favorite verses is Ephesians 1:17, 18 – “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints…” The passage goes on to explain all the results of having the spirit of wisdom and revelation in our lives. To see the details and how to apply them into people’s lives. How to teach in such a way that people are forever changed. Such an amazing gift.
Knowledge
What is the tallest tree in the world? It’s the Redwood. How tall are they? Well, the tallest ones get a name. The Hyperion, which sets in deep in the California forests, is nearly 380 feet tall. Its exact location is kept a secret to avoid someone doing it damage. Did you know this? The word here in verse 2 refers to knowing more than others. Having answers. Most specifically from God and scripture.
Great Faith
Faith comes on the coattails of belief. Belief is something we can have without proof. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1, NKJV) To paraphrase that in my own words, “Faith is the foundation of having hope for the future. It is proof of our belief in things we cannot see in the flesh.” Great faith is all of that with increase. Faith to move a mountain. Faith to shift the world.
Generosity
Verse 3
“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.”
Possessions
We all have a few things we call our own. Even those struggling to survive on the streets will have a few things that are theirs. Jesus taught to give. He owned very little and did not seek to have possessions. But He was Jesus. Still, His example to us is to grant all we have, if need be, to ensure that others are set. Whether they need food or shelter. Suppose we do give it all up. Take our car and give it to someone who needs a way to get to work?
Martyrdom
We have all that we have because of one Man’s giving of His life. For the greatest of causes. Can it be that we are called to give up or risk our lives for others? Should we chance it? In the past, many Christians gave up their life for the belief they had in Jesus to die, literally, by burning at the stake. The martyring of Christians goes on today in the droves. Thousands every year. In our current crises with the Corona Virus, laws are being put in place that may lead to forms of martyrdom right here in the “free” USA. Are you ready?
Profit
This word means “gain”. It means to have something achieved, but not necessarily personal profit. To have advancement or accomplishments for more than myself. To build the Kingdom of God. Have I done what I have done for the benefit of the Church? Not the building, the “Church of God”. Have my actions done anything to increase the Presence of the Holy Spirit in the world?
In Short
I can speak from a stage, from a pulpit, from the movie screen, from the White House… from any number of mediums and yet I still must be motivated by love or I am just making noise. No matter how many Grammys or Oscars I have. No matter how many degrees decorate my office wall. No matter how many people have come to Jesus in my services.
I can tell you what you ate for breakfast 10 years ago, on the first of January. My gift is that finely tuned. Bill Johnson, President Trump, & Toby Mac all call me when they have any theological or Biblical questions. My book “The Wonders of God’s World” has become the go-to source for scientists the world over. They recently had me involved to call forth a new lake in the Sahara Desert. Saved a million lives. Nonsense, but yeah…
What I have I give all. Feeding the hungry. They came to tell me I could no longer speak about the Bible. I refused and they took me away in chains. All for Jesus.
Suppose we give all we have? All of our talents, all of our possessions, all of our own blood? Until we have nothing and are left to die in the dungeons of the faithful? Giving our last breath to tell the world of God’s goodness?
It might be a moot point, but recognizing these truths I wonder if in our walk with God our hearts will demand to know and live in God’s love in order to display these actions? As Jesus reminded us of the greatest commandments, love God above everything and the other one is linked to the first one. Love your neighbor as yourself. You cannot do one without the other. Being able to do the things that are described in these three verses does, indeed, require us to love. It might be impossible otherwise.
