“Though I speak with
the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding
brass or a clanging cymbal.”
Though I can speak all languages, even perhaps angelic tongues, if I do not have love what I do say is meaningless. No matter how eloquent my speech or that I can speak in all languages so that all can understand my speech, if I do not have love as my priority, it's meaningless. So then, even if all around me are struck with wonder at my speaking abilities and language skills, if I have not love what I say is just sounds without meaning.
“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, but have not love, I am nothing.”
Even if I have the gift of prophecy and faith in God to provide for all knowledge, all things and miraculous ability and do not have love, then any understanding I have or any miracle performed through me is as nothing. Further anything I would do, no matter how fantastic and filled with knowledge would be worthless without love.
“And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”
If I give everything I own to help others needier than I and even give my life over in service to God, but do not love, all this sacrifice is for nothing. There is no formula.
“Love suffers long and is kind; “
Love reveals itself in us when we are patient, long suffering and kind towards others, even when the other person reciprocates nothing.
“love does not envy;”
When you love someone you aren't jealous of their things, status or relationships.
“It does not boast, it is not proud.”
When you love you do not go around telling everyone in hopes they will see you in a better light or think more highly of you.
“It does not dishonor others,”
When you love someone you don't treat them shamefully or badly or put them down, even if they treat you this way.
“it is not self-seeking,”
To love doesn't involve selfish gain. Loving someone means you love them even if you get nothing from them. We love because God first loved us.
“it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”
When you are filled with love you aren't easily angered when people hurt you. When others hurt you, and everyone will at some point, you may discuss it but you'll quickly forgive and forget their wrong against you.
“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.”
Love does not enjoy seeing others suffer, even if you feel they deserve it. Instead when you truly love someone you rejoice when they see truth in their lives even if it doesn't help or benefit you.
“It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
When you love someone you always seek to protect them, even from themselves, if possible. Further you trust them, even after they break a trust because you forgive and forget. You always hope for the best from them, even if it seems as though they'll never change and you abide with them and never cease in being there for them.
“Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part.”
There's no way anyone can know everything living as we are now: broken and sinful. Even if everything else ceases and fails, love remains and will never fail.
“But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.”
However, we will know all when Jesus returns and what we thought we knew will depart and only faith, hope and love will remain.
“When I was a child, I spoke 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 in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”
We are all like children aspiring to be mature. How often do we seek out selfish and childish solutions to our problems? We need to put these childish things away from us. When we see Jesus face to face, not as we see Him now, dimly, then we will truly know all and capable of being fully mature in Him.
“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (I Corinthians 13:1-13)
Though I can speak all languages, even perhaps angelic tongues, if I do not have love what I do say is meaningless. No matter how eloquent my speech or that I can speak in all languages so that all can understand my speech, if I do not have love as my priority, it's meaningless. So then, even if all around me are struck with wonder at my speaking abilities and language skills, if I have not love what I say is just sounds without meaning.
“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, but have not love, I am nothing.”
Even if I have the gift of prophecy and faith in God to provide for all knowledge, all things and miraculous ability and do not have love, then any understanding I have or any miracle performed through me is as nothing. Further anything I would do, no matter how fantastic and filled with knowledge would be worthless without love.
“And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”
If I give everything I own to help others needier than I and even give my life over in service to God, but do not love, all this sacrifice is for nothing. There is no formula.
“Love suffers long and is kind; “
Love reveals itself in us when we are patient, long suffering and kind towards others, even when the other person reciprocates nothing.
“love does not envy;”
When you love someone you aren't jealous of their things, status or relationships.
“It does not boast, it is not proud.”
When you love you do not go around telling everyone in hopes they will see you in a better light or think more highly of you.
“It does not dishonor others,”
When you love someone you don't treat them shamefully or badly or put them down, even if they treat you this way.
“it is not self-seeking,”
To love doesn't involve selfish gain. Loving someone means you love them even if you get nothing from them. We love because God first loved us.
“it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”
When you are filled with love you aren't easily angered when people hurt you. When others hurt you, and everyone will at some point, you may discuss it but you'll quickly forgive and forget their wrong against you.
“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.”
Love does not enjoy seeing others suffer, even if you feel they deserve it. Instead when you truly love someone you rejoice when they see truth in their lives even if it doesn't help or benefit you.
“It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
When you love someone you always seek to protect them, even from themselves, if possible. Further you trust them, even after they break a trust because you forgive and forget. You always hope for the best from them, even if it seems as though they'll never change and you abide with them and never cease in being there for them.
“Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part.”
There's no way anyone can know everything living as we are now: broken and sinful. Even if everything else ceases and fails, love remains and will never fail.
“But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.”
However, we will know all when Jesus returns and what we thought we knew will depart and only faith, hope and love will remain.
“When I was a child, I spoke 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 in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”
We are all like children aspiring to be mature. How often do we seek out selfish and childish solutions to our problems? We need to put these childish things away from us. When we see Jesus face to face, not as we see Him now, dimly, then we will truly know all and capable of being fully mature in Him.
“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (I Corinthians 13:1-13)
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