Like many congregations in the first century, the church at Corinth had many spiritual gifts. This was something that became a point of contention among the members there, “Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let each one be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel” (1 Corinthians 14:12). Since these spiritual gifts, speaking in different languages, healing, prophesying, were so desired, the church began to divide over which one was the best or most valuable to have. After explaining to them that they are all members of the body of Christ and each person has a place in that body (1 Corinthians 12:12-20), Paul makes this statement, “Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:29-31). The “more excellent way” means to “throw beyond”, the more excellent gift Paul will introduce is far beyond any spiritual gift a person could have, it is the gift of love. 

1 Corinthians 13 details the characteristics of love. Love completes and changes a person. Love is more important than what we say. Love is more important than what we have. Love is more important than what we do. Love is “thrown beyond” all other traits that a Christian should possess.

Jesus taught the importance of love throughout His ministry, especially at the end:

“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (John 15:9-14).

“But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:34-40).

Paul indicates that between faith, hope, and love, that love is the greatest of the three. Faith is important to the child of God, for without it, we cannot be pleasing to God. Hope is driving force that protects our hearts and minds from the sadness that is in this world. But when our lives are no more, when the things that are not seen that we had our faith in are seen, when the hope of heaven and eternal life is realized, the only trait that will remain is love. 

Our love for the Father, for Jesus, for the Holy Spirit. Our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Let us heed the words written by John in 1 John 4:7, 8: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

By: Justin Odom