If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn't love others, what good would I be?
And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody.
If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would be of no value whatsoever.
(1 Corinthians 13:1-3)
I think Paul's point can be expanded further than what he wrote, and I think it should be. We should make the premise behind the words personal to our lives. I hear Paul's words rattling in my head quite often, sometimes they stop me from saying something hurtful...but too many times I ignore them, and nearly immediately regret it.
I logged onto facebook & twitter around 10p last night, and saw the storm erupting on the interwebs about health care reform. And despite what I was hearing in my head, I got slightly involved in it.
I thought of ways that Paul's words should be applied to mine and other people's actions at that moment...and I didn't like it.
I know that I always need more love. That I always need to receive more love, and I especially need to give and exhibit more love for others.
--
- If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn't love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal.
- If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn't love others, what good would I be?
- And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody.
- If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn't love others, I would be of no value whatsoever.
And then the ones I started to make personal...
- If I stand for what I believe to be right, and voice my disapproval at my leaders and government, but if I don't have love...
- If I gloat about a policy or law change that I agree with, but if I don't love those who are against it...
- If I see myself as informed and everyone who disagrees with me as ignorant, but I don't love them...
- If I am legitimately afraid for my children's or grandchildren's futures, but if I don't have love...
- I may have great influence in my life, people may listen to my advice and parrot back my opinions, but without love...
- I may have severe ideological/political differences with my neighbor, or even my brother, but if I don't love them...
- I may not understand the perspective of others, but if I didn't love them...
How do you make 1 Cor 13: 1-3 personal to you?
Where do you need to be reminded of the need for love in your life and interactions with others?
What are you, without love?
What are you, without love?
