“The Greatest of These”
Call to Worship ~ Romans 8:38-39
First Reading ~ 1 John 4:7-21
Second Reading ~ 1 Corinthians 12:31b-13:14
Our Second Lesson today is easily one of the most beloved, profound and beautiful passages in the Bible. It’s often, as most of you know, referred to as the “Love Chapter.” It’s probably used at more weddings than any other verse.
But we should understand... is not some poetic embellishment that points to an unrealistic ideal, an unattainable goal... but a divine blueprint for actually living a life that honors God and blesses others. It’s a call to love that goes beyond mere emotionalism, reaching into the depths of our character and actions.
Of course, Paul wrote these words to the church in Corinth, a community that was struggling with division, and pride, and misunderstanding of spiritual gifts. In this context, he reminded the Corinthians... and each of us... that the greatest mark of a follower of Christ is not knowledge, power, or even our spiritual gifts, but love.
Paul begins by declaring that without love, all spiritual accomplishments are meaningless.
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 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.”
Don’t misunderstand: Paul is not diminishing the value of spiritual gifts like prophecy, knowledge, or faith. Rather, he’s emphasizing that even the most extraordinary giftings and actions ring hollow... if they’re NOT offered with the right intention.
Our words, our faith, our actions are meaningless, if not motivated by love. Love (as expressed by Christ himself) is the ultimate evidence of our faith. Without it, our words are noise, our deeds are empty, and our sacrifices are pointless.
This is a powerful reminder for us today. We may be gifted, knowledgeable, generous... BUT... if such blessings are not founded and motivated by love... if they’re not expressed thru love, and by love... such things are of no eternal value. True faith always expresses itself through love.
Paul paints a vivid picture of what this “love” he’s calling us to live actually looks like:
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
In other words, Christian love is not self seeking, self-centered... not self-oriented. Christian love is selfless...
We all have work to do, don’t we? It’s a challenge to love like this, because this love (agape) we’re called to operate in is radically different from the love expressed and idealized by the world. It’s a love that’s not driven by emotions or convenience or profit... but by a commitment to seek the good of others. Each phrase here is an invitation to reflect on our relationships:
~ Are we patient and kind, especially with those who test our patience?
~ Do we rejoice in the successes of others, or do we struggle with envy?
~ Are we quick to forgive, or do we hold onto resentment?
This kind of love is not natural; it doesn’t come naturally to any of us. Instead, it flows from the Spirit of God working in and thru us. Jesus modeled such love. He set the example. His patience with His disciples, His kindness to the outcast, and His sacrificial death on the cross are perfect expressions of the love we’re called to emulate... that we’re called to live-out as followers of Christ.
Paul then compares the self-less love we’re called to live-out, with our spiritual gifts, which are temporary:
“Love never fails (or ends). As for prophecies, they will cease; as for tongues, they will be stilled; as for knowledge, it will pass away.”Temporary.
Spiritual gifts are for the “here and now” so-to-speak. They’re for today! They’re intended to help us grow in our service to Christ - in order that you and I will produce fruit (the evidence) of the Spirit, until we meet Jesus face-to-face. But love is forever! It’s eternal. It sounds like a diamond commercial or a Valentine’s Day plug.
Let me ask you something: How many of you have lost someone you love... your parents, or spouse? A child? Raise you hand. How many of you still love that person you lost? Point made. Love knows no time or distance. It’s not based on such things. It’s eternal... everlasting... never ending. And God’s love for us is even more eternal...
Romans 8:38-39, “I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
I may lose my love for caramel cake and ice cream... I can’t imagine that happening... but it could. I could lose my love for football or classical music... or for anything else this world may offer. But I can never lose my love for Christ, or his love for me: It’s the most secure reality in this life... because it’s not dependent on me.
1 John 4:16 reminds us that you and I, “RELY on the love God has for us.” We rely on God’s love... the very same love we’re called to offer one another...
When we stand before God, we will no longer need prophecy or knowledge because we will be in the fullness of His presence. Yet love will remain because God Himself is love (1 John 4:8).
And that brings us to Paul’s finale in Chapter 13: “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
Why is love the greatest? Because while faith and hope are essential in this life, love is the essence of God’s nature and the ultimate fulfillment of His purpose for us. We are called, by Christ himself, to love God and love one another, and this love will continue forever.
We should ask ourselves:
~ How can I show love more fully in my family, church, and community?
~ Am I allowing God to shape my character so that my love reflects His?
~ Do I prioritize love over accomplishments, recognition, or being right?
This scripture, is authorative and true. It calls us to examine our hearts and realign our priorities. May we all remember that love is not just an emotion or feeling, but an action that calls us to put others ahead of self... and to love first, just as we’ve been loved first by God.
“Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest is love.”
Amen.
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