“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” 1 Corinthians 13:1 (NIV)
We were put here on Earth to learn to love God and others. Love is our greatest aim in life.
In the f…
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” 1 Corinthians 13:1 (NIV)
We were put here on Earth to learn to love God and others. Love is our greatest aim in life.
In the first few verses of 1 Corinthians 13, the Bible makes it clear why love is the most important value:
Without love, all that you say is ineffective. “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1 NIV). Words without love are just noise. People resent and reject unloving words. But they will listen and respond to words spoken in love.
Without love, all that you know is incomplete. “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge . . . but do not have love, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2 NIV). The world is exploding with information and knowledge, yet many of our most basic problems are not being solved. That’s because the world really is not looking for more knowledge; the world is looking for love.
Without love, all that you believe is insufficient. “If I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2 NIV). Many people have the misconception that being a Christian is just about believing certain truths and doctrines. But do you love Jesus? Do you realize he loves you? Christianity is about experiencing the love Jesus has for you and learning how to love like him.
Without love, all that you give is insignificant. “If I give all I possess to the poor . . . but do not have love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:3 NIV). There are all kinds of motivations for giving, including obligation or prestige or guilt. Just because you give doesn’t mean you’re doing it in love. You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.
Without love, all that you accomplish is inadequate. “If I were burned alive for preaching the Gospel but didn’t love oth..
