THE GREATEST OF ALL THINGS

1 Corinthians 13

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 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, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

It seem impossible to study the first verse of this chapter of Paul's letter to the church at Corinth, without studying the entire chapter. It is one beautiful, dynamic lesson from God's inspired word. For that purpose all thirteen verses are included as the introductory lesson. Indeed, in this lesson text, Paul describes the more excellent way, that he referred to in the closing of the previous chapter. Of all the spiritual gifts Paul described in the twelfth chapter of this letter, he, in this chapter, tells us that they would be useless and vain without charity. It is charity, or love that one has for God and for others, which is the sum total - the very heart of Christianity. This biblical truth is recorded in a question posed by a Pharisee lawyer followed by Jesus' answer: Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets (See Matt. 22:34-40).

The spiritual gifts Paul described in chapter 12 were very beneficial in the establishment, growth, and edification of the church of Christ. However, the lesson text tells us how useless they would be if not used in the spirit of love, that is, if the motive for using these gifts was for some personal reason rather than for the love of God and the love of fellow man. Speaking in "tongues," which refer to languages, which were unlearned, was an extremely necessary spiritual gift. The apostles used it on the day of Pentecost in order that all might hear, in their own understandable language, the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. It not only served this purpose, but speaking in tongues was a miraculous gift that confirmed the apostles to be men sent by God, and gave validity to their preaching. Without love, the effectiveness of speaking in tongues would become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. Brass musical instruments and cymbals make loud, even harmonious sounds, but contain no verbal meaning. Speaking in tongues had no reward without the love expressed by the apostles and other gifted teachers of God's word.

The gift of prophesy, preaching, or teaching is a very wonderful spiritual gift, and extremely necessary in spreading the gospel message of Jesus Christ. Yet, unless expressed in godly love, it would fail to accomplish the result intended, and would go unrewarded. Even if one could understand all mysteries, the deepest secrets of God that seemed hidden in Old Testament prophesies; even if one had all knowledge of God's plan of salvation and the aptitude to teach it to others, if done of necessity and without love, it would, no doubt, be ineffective, falling on deaf ears, and there would be no eternal reward. Even if one had all faith - not faith that is learned by hearing, but a miraculous faith that had been given by the Holy Spirit - a faith that could move mountains (See Matt. 17:20), and have not charity (or love), I am nothing.

Even if the greatest degree of benevolence known to mankind is exhibited to feed the poor, to the extent that one would even sacrifice their own life to help others that are in need, and have not charity (or love), it profiteth me nothing. All of the spiritual gifts described in the previous chapter, and those mentioned in the lesson text, will mean nothing - there will be no heavenly reward, if they are used for selfish motives. True love of God, and true love for fellow human beings, must be the motivation for Christian works. One's hope of eternal salvation depends on pious actions that result from unconditional love.

Love is not only desirable, but, in the life of a Christian, it is essential to inheriting eternal life. Therefore we must know what true love really is. Paul tells us. He describes it by telling us the characteristics of charity, or love. In each illustration, it is exemplified by our manner of conduct toward others. This would seem to fill the second of the great commandments - Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. But what about the first great commandment - Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind? Shouldn't we, first of all, demonstrate our love to God? Yes we should, and Jesus tells us how to do this. Matthew's gospel says that when we perform acts of love for others we, at the same time, demonstrate our love for God. In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me (See Matt. 25:34-46). Although Jesus gave us two great commandments regarding love, the apostle John combines them into one commandment when he wrote he who loveth God love his brother also. We assure our love for God by demonstrating our love for our fellow man. It is impossible, in God's sight, to love Him without loving our neighbor.

Here, Paul gives us this description of love. Love suffereth long. Trials and temptations do not diminish true love one for another. Where there was strife and divisions among people, as was the case in the church at Corinth, brotherly love could not be found. To demonstrate true love, requires one to be slow to anger. It requires a patient disposition. Without longsuffering, love is hypocritical; it is conditional. Love is kind. Gentleness, courteousness, generosity, tenderheartedness, and mildness are characteristics that come to mind, that describe the kindness of love. Along these lines of thought, Peter wrote ...be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing (1 Pet. 3:8-9).

Love envieth not. Love prohibits and excludes envy from its presence. Envy rears its head, and exhibits its destructive nature, when pleasing satisfaction is felt at the misfortune of another. Love is absent when envy is present.

Love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. Love does not demonstrate an air of superiority, and does not have an inflated ego. A boastful braggart demonstrates self-love, rather than true Christian love for one another.

Love doth not behave itself unseemly. Love does not conduct itself in a discourteous manner. It does not act disgracefully or uncomely in any fashion, but, rather, shows respect for others, regardless of their status of life.

Love seeketh not her own. Love is not selfish. Yes, it is necessary for a husband and wife to love as their concern for the physical and spiritual welfare of themselves and their family. But true love is demonstrated by unselfishly having this same concern for others, that results in acts of compassion to satisfy their needs, with all being given willingly, in order to glorify God, rather than themselves.

Love is not easily provoked. Having love, as God intended, one is calm and patient; able to withstand the most severe provocation; having the ability to subdue, restrain, and control anger in times of opposition, distress, or displeasure.

Love thinketh no evil. One having godly love will not search for the faults of others; will not judge their motives; will not hold a grudge and seek vengeance for the actions of others.

Love rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth (Vs. 6). Instead of rejoicing, one expressing love is saddened by sinful acts, and any wrong that is done to others. Whether it be a friend or an enemy, there is no joy in any transgression that may be committed, or in the punishment that may be received for committing it - only sadness. Joy is found in just the opposite. There is no joy in the moral failing of another. However, true love brings rejoicing when moral excellence and virtue are demonstrated by the actions of others.

Love beareth all things. Love causes one to bear up under, and not be overcome by, the loads of life, what ever they may be.

Love believeth all things. This tenet of love does not mean that falsehoods and error are accepted as truth. However, it is used in the sense of our relationship with others. In other words, one having true love is not prematurely distrustful and suspicious of others; having doubt about their motives.

Love hopeth all things. Love is always hopeful in looking forward to the final result. Godly love for the soul of another will never give in to rejection, but will hold on to, remain hopeful, and keep trying to save that particular soul, as well as every soul they are capable of reaching and teaching the gospel message of Jesus Christ.

Love endureth all things. Love displays an unyielding persistence in overcoming all rejection, suffering, and persecution - and does so without complaint.

Paul now describes charity, which is true love, as durable, imperishable, and everlasting. Charity never faileth. Love endures; it is eternal; it survives where all other blessings may fail, or cease. Whether there be prophesies, they shall fail. Prophesy, as it relates to the prediction of future events, has, indeed, long since, ceased simply because the need for it ended with the coming of Christ, the establishment of His church, and the writing of the Holy Spirit inspired New Testament. So it is with the spiritual gift of speaking in unlearned languages.

Whether there be tongues, they shall cease. This spiritual gift, at the beginning of the New Testament era, allowed inspired preachers of God's word to teach the gospel of Christ to all people in an understandable language. Speaking in tongues enabled God's word to spread through out the world, and, at the same time, this gift confirmed the speaker to be an inspired messenger of God. With the written word of God available, speaking in tongues also ceased to be necessary.

Whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. Knowledge of God's word is not what is meant here, rather the spiritual gift of speaking the will of God by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is meant. The teaching of the apostle Paul, as well as the teaching of all other apostles and inspired teachers was a gift, a temporary gift that came from God through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit (See Acts 1:8; 2 Tim. 3:16; 1 Cor. 2:10). With the written word of God, that is, with both the Old and New Testaments available, the need for miraculously inspired teaching of God's will also vanished away (See Vs. 8).

God's holy word has been preserved for us; it is available throughout the world; the church of Christ was established and is now carrying out its mission of preaching and teaching the gospel of salvation to all that have open and receptive hearts - all that are truly searching for the hope of salvation through Jesus Christ. Indeed, Christian men and women today have access to sufficient scriptural wisdom, in order to know God's will. And yet the lesson text tells us that we only know in part, and we prophesy in part. Here in verses 9 through 12, Paul tells us that, although we have sufficient knowledge to find salvation through Jesus, we, as human beings, have only a minute knowledge of what awaits us in the spiritual world to come. We only have partial knowledge God's complete design for mankind. With this limited knowledge, our prophesy, or teaching is limited to the same extent. We can teach no more than we know, and we only know in part.

However, when that which is perfect is come, that is, with the coming of Christ on the Day of Judgment, partial knowledge of mankind shall be done away, and full knowledge shall be revealed. The imperfections of humanity will vanish away when the perfect knowledge of God has been revealed. This conclusion Paul illustrates by the growth of a child into an adult. Due to limited knowledge of life here on earth, the manner of speaking, understanding, and thinking is extremely limited in the small child. As one grows and matures into adulthood, more knowledge and better understandings replace childish things. Similar to this, our partial knowledge will be replaced by full spiritual knowledge in the world to come.

What a wonderful example Paul uses to illustrate this teaching. While here on earth, full knowledge is limited. For now we see through a glass, darkly. That is, our conception of the full knowledge of God is compared to looking into a mirror; not a good mirror, but one that is dark, flawed, imperfect - one that gives us an indistinct reflection of what is to be seen. Indeed, restricted by human wisdom, our knowledge of things divine is as dim, imperfect, and incomplete as an image seen in a faulty mirror. However, there will be no veil of obscurity when we meet Jesus Christ, and come before Him face to face on the Day of Judgment. It can be truly said, while here on earth, now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. The flawed mirror will be replaced with clear vision and understanding.

Finally, in the last verse of Chapter 13, Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, and for our edification today, And now abideth faith, hope, and charity, these three, but the greatest of these is charity. Yes, there are many gifts bestowed on mankind by God. Some, in times past, were miraculous spiritual gifts, and some gifts are those ordinarily given to all of His obedient children in Christ Jesus. But in this verse, Paul tells us these three Christian characteristics are permanent, not merely temporary in our sojourn here on earth. Faith, hope, and love are commanded by our Heavenly Father. They will survive; they are eternal, and they will accompany all the saved that are privileged to enter heaven. And of these three the greatest ...is love! The glory of faith and hope is found in love. Without love, faith and hope will not assure salvation in heaven. Mankind was created in God's image. God is love, and God wants us to be as He is. The apostle John, by divine inspiration, confirms this truth. He wrote, And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him (1 John 4:16). The Greatest of All Things is Love - Love for God and Love for your Neighbor!