1 Corinthians 13.1-3
“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.”
Paul spells out several activities that require love in order to be effective. If love is missing from any of these activities, then the action is rendered useless.
The first activity is speaking “in the tongues of men and of angels.” Whether Paul is referring to the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues, or he is referring to the intelligence and eloquence of someone who has mastered multiple languages, the point is that without love the speaker is simply noise. And annoying noise at that.
Remember, this letter was written to Christians in the Corinthian church. Paul is warning them (and us) to avoid spiritual talk that is devoid of love. Possessing charismatic gifts is not the sign of the presence of the Spirit; agape love is the indicator of the Spirit’s presence.
The second activity is having “prophetic powers and understanding all mysteries and knowledge.” Paul says that if your knowledge, understanding, and insight into spiritual things is not directed by love, then you are nothing. Early in this same letter, Paul wrote that “knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.”
It is noteworthy that Paul actually uses the first person in this passage. He fully realizes that the law of love applies to him, as well. “If I have prophetic powers,” Paul says, “but have not love, I am nothing.”
The third activity is “having all faith so as to remove mountains.” Yes, even faith can be exercised without love and without the fruit of the Spirit. Many of the flamboyant TV preachers are glaring examples of this.
The fourth activity is “giving away all I have and delivering my body to be burned.” If I engage in charitable actions without love, I gain nothing. If I offer up my life to martyrdom, but do it without love, I gain nothing.
These are dramatic statements, and at this point the apostle should have your attention. It is entirely possible to engage in many seemingly spiritual activities and do so without love. Why? Because of spiritual pride and a desire to look good to other Christians.
This is about motives, and about the source of your power. Are you engaging in spiritual actions motivated and empowered by the love the Holy Spirit gives, or are you doing things to maintain appearance?
Bottom line: Love is so valuable—so important—that apart from it, every other good thing is useless.
“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Corinthians 16.13-14)
