1 Corinthians 13
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.
There are many tools or means of imparting the goodness of God in ministry to others. Those gifts themselves, though, while to be desired for their true purpose, don’t establish a foundation for identity and worth. Each of them is extremely useful to effect a change from the heart of God, but if allowed to be the focus and pursuit of personal recognition, they will prove to be unstable and short-lived. If those operating impressively in any of these gifts are followed after and idolized for what seems to be flowing from them, this will also prove unreliable in the long run. Over time our growth in the nature of Christ will lose the emphasis on who is doing what for what is actually being accomplished in service to the love of God. Where an imparted experience of His love is the driving force and passion, there will be no end to effecting this purpose through whatever means are available. The means lose their significance in the glory of love’s effect on the one receiving it.
Since there is such a natural tendency to elevate giftings as if they have anything to do with the glory of their vessels, there is an opportunity to evade this dangerous diversion by humbly remaining in servant mode to the heart of God. To accomplish anything of sustenance that will remain beyond the aging and dispensing of the vessels, it will only be through hearts that establish the purpose for everything that is done in a love that is fueled by the heart of God. Gifts will be developed to their full potential and functionality where they are truly inspired and propelled by the Spirit and its fruit that precedes and is found in all others – love.
All of the things that we strive for in this natural world will pass away. Verse 10 said, “But when that which is perfect comes, then that which is imperfect, shall pass away.” I have a new revelation on the things of this world versus the things we accomplish for the kingdom. While God wants to bless us, while He wants us to have everything we need; none of those things go with us when we meet Him face to face.
What does my life boil down to? Is it junk or things that my family will have to go through, or is there an eternal legacy that will be left on earth and in Heaven? The latter is what I strive for, knowing that the imperfect world and all of its things will pass away and all that will remain is what I have sown in the kingdom of God.
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