1 Corinthians 13:1-13
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.
For those who are feeling a bit elevated in their gifting, there is an opportunity to grow up and let go of those childish, selfish notions for a maturity that has nothing to do with who you are and your special gift. Unless love is the motive and others are being lifted up, encouraged and cared for, all that’s occurring is some immature behaviors. Even the power of faith and love is ineffective apart from love. Rather than being driven by dreams of spiritual demonstrations that often just bring division and strife, a love drive will enable all giftings with a Godly purpose of unity and wholeness for the body. The gift will become just a tool for the implementation of building up love towards those that were once thought to be lesser. This is the God way – following love’s path and utilizing the Spirit’s power to accomplish its heart.
Love is our greatest challenge to walk in, but also the most rewarding one when we do walk in it!