Quick Note – 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 – Driven by Love

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. ² 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. ³ If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is everything.  As Christians, it can be easy for us to get caught up in the ministry of doing things for God.  We serve others by ushering them to their seats or setting up the sound before church; we teach Sunday school or Wednesday night Bible studies; we lead small groups or children’s church.  We go about doing the things we should.  But how many of us consider why we are doing these things?  We give of our time, our effort, and even our finances to help the church, but are we doing it for the right reasons? 

Paul in the opening of one of the most famous chapters in the Bible – 1 Corinthians 13 – the Love Chapter, wrote that without love whatever he did was meaningless.  He said this three times in three different ways in the first three verses of this chapter.  First, he said that if he speaks in an angelic tongue (which was valued by many Christians at that time) or many languages, it would just be like a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal if done without love.  In other words, speaking in languages that could impress but without speaking in love for the purpose of building and encouraging others would be as worthless as a child banging upon pots and pans without any discernable rhythm.  Love should drive his speech. 

Second, he said that if he had the traits that would impress any Christians like prophetic powers, an understanding of all the mysteries of God and the world, and even the faith and power to bring about miracles, he would be considered nothing if he didn’t have love.  Regardless of whether he had what people valued as important, he would be considered worthless if he had all these traits without the love of Christ.  Being valued for his skill sets meant nothing if he had them without love. 

Third, he said that if he gave away all his possessions and even his life but did it without love, he would gain nothing.  When someone gives, one usually expects a return.  If one gives of his or her life, one expects that the life traded for will be lived in a worthwhile manner.  When something is given up, a gain should be returned.  However, Paul said that if he gave everything but did it without love, there would be no gain at all.  It would be worthless.  To give without love would lead to no benefit. 

That is why we as Christians should be careful to understand why we are serving in the ministry.  Are we doing it for the recognition of others?  Are we doing it for our own internal fulfillment?  Are we doing it because we feel like we are obligated to?  If we are serving God but doing so without love being the primary reason driving it, then it is worthless.  We should be serving God out of love for Him.  We should be serving others with the love of Christ dwelling in us.  We should be growing in Christ, because we love Him.  If we do anything, let us do in love.  Let our lives be driven by love.