1 Corinthians 13
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing…
All the mess that we see in the world today can be attributed to a lack of love. Because we have failed to properly love God and our neighbour, evil flourishes. Consequently, families disintegrate, atrocious acts are committed against people, churches become the centre of exploitation, leaders greedily seek their own interests, etc. Love is paramount, and its absence is catastrophic. No wonder then Paul takes what seems like a literary detour in our passage today to address this theme of love. Addressing the chaos that existed in the Corinthian church because of their understanding and expression of spiritual gifts, he exalts love as the most excellent way (1 Corinthians 12:31). Therefore, he argues, it doesn’t matter how gifted we are. It doesn’t matter how powerful we are. It doesn’t even matter how sacrificial we are. If love lacks, then all these amount to nothing.
It is not just Paul who talks about the necessity of love. Jesus did tell His disciples that their love for one another would be the evidence that they are His disciples (John 13:35). The ‘Apostle of Love’ further insists on this when he argues:
_We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him._
To be a Christian is synonymous with to love. None can claim to be saved and assured of eternal life if the fruit of love does not abide in them. That is why we must resolve this year to love – first to love God and, consequently, our neighbour. How will this look like in how we relate with one another? I will allow Paul to have the last word on this:
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
Reflections
1. Does how you relate with others reveal that you are a Christian?
2. Are there people in your life you find most difficult to love? Pray for grace to show them love this year.
