1 Corinthians 13:1-13
JUST NOISE WITHOUT LOVE
\”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.\”1 Corinthians 13:1
The English word \”though\” is from the Greek word \”ean\” which is a conditional particle. It is conditional on something else in the sentence, charity or love. The English word tongue(s) is a translation from the Greek word \”glossais\”, which in context means naturally unacquired languages (the word is plural). There are many different languages of men, therefore there are many different Gifts of languages or tongues of men. Those who have the gift of language would not all be speaking the same language. Notice Paul said, though I speak, not you. The direct object of glossa is men and angels. The Koine Greek word for Man is men or anthropos. The word \”Angel\” is from the Koine Greek word \”angelos\” which in this context means messenger or pastor.
The ability to speak is what you were born with, but you had to acquire. To speak with a tongue is a Spiritual Gift of an un-acquired human language, not learned by you. Notice, The Apostle Paul said what makes this gift of language effective is how it is used in charity. Charity is from the Greek word \”agape\” which means love, affection or benevolence. If we do not use this gift of language to love another person, it is just unintelligent noise. If I use my gift of foreign language in the Church of believers who speak a different common language, who am I loving? The use of a Spiritual Gift has to have a direct object other than me!! (Eph 4:12)
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 (1 Corinthians 13:1).\”
Notice the gift of prophecy is a God given ability to understand the deeper mysteries of the Bible. Some of God\’s Word is easily understood. Some of God\’s Word require you to do some research to understand. This research has to have as its\’ objective, the edification of the body of Christ. Prophecy is the ability to understand the Bible, Faith is the ability to trust God while putting the Word in practice. It is our faith in the truth of the Word that drives us to put it into practice. The Gift of prophecy and a strong faith are useless unless they are used to exercise our love for others in the Church. Since God is love, He expects us to act with love (Eph 4:16).
\” 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 (1 Corinthians 13:3).\”
It is only what you do for the Lord that counts and stores blessings in heaven. An act of generosity without love does not count to the Lord. Any help you do is beneficial to the receiver. God does not direct us to do anything without love for others as the objective. Offering yourself up for some great cause does not count in heaven unless it is done out of love for the good of others.
- Love keeps all Spiritual Gifts working in unity (Eph 4:13).
- Love is the foundation of the Christian faith.
- Love is the key element in the Christian family.
- Love gives the ministry of gifts it\’s value.
A COMPARISON: LOVE FOR GOD VERSES LOVE FOR SELF.
\”Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,(1 Corinthians 13:4)\” Eph 4:2
Love is not affected by my personal problems or the difficulties I face. Love separates the person from his/her actions. Love sees the person as a creation from God and his/her actions as a product of his/her thoughts and environment. I do not have to like or agree with what a person does to love the individual. Love understands that people have issues that causes them to act rationally or irrationally. You don\’t have to be kind to me, for me to be kind to you. What someone does or does not do, should not affect my love for them. Any actions on my part should be what is in the best interest of the individual.
Love is content in itself and does not want what someone else has. There will all ways be someone with more than you have and something bigger and newer than what you have. Love rejoices when others excel.
Love always sees the other person as important and equal. When you lift others up, Christ will lift you up. Christ said if I be lifted up, I will draw all men to me.
\”Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil (1 Corinthians 13:5)\”.
Love never acts out of place or out of character.
Love seeks a lifestyle of righteousness. In Love, you should treat everyone the way you want to be treated and everyone should be treated the same. Love is considerate. In Love, we should make it our aim not to cause anyone pain or distress. When people are already in pain, we should in love seek to comfort them. We should not be boastful or hold ourselves to be more up right than others.
We should be slow to speak, quick to listen and slow to anger. When some people are having a bad day, they sometimes will take their frustrations out on you. Being slow to speak and quick to listen will allow you to come up with an appropriate response that may comfort and calm the person down.
It is easy to say something bad about someone because we have been programmed by the world to find the negative. It takes the same amount of energy to find something good and uplifting to say to someone as it does to say something negative. The trick is, to see everyone as a child of God with some serious issues that Word of God can comfort. The best of us can have a bad day and in need of a Word from the Lord to calm us down.
\” Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.(1 Corinthians 13:6)\”
When you have that close relationship with Lord, you do not get involved in things that do not please Him. A Christian should not get involved in gossip or negative talk about another person. We should find it in our hearts to pray for those who are suffering, as a result of their wrong doings. None of us are so good that we can\’t fall into temptations of some sort.
We should never get involved in spreading lies and untruths Eph 4:29. We should find joy when the truth is told and is uplifting. None of us are insulated from the hurt of inconsiderate words that down play or over look our devoted participation. With that in mind, we should find joy in spreading the truth about others.
WHAT LOVE DOES
\” Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things (1 Corinthians 13:7).\”
Love always protects the reputation of others. Love does not broadcast wrongs done. Love may know something that is true but negative and keep silent about it. Love does not talk about another person for selfish gain. Love believes the best about another person. Love believes that whatever a person sets his/her mind on, can be accomplished. Love supports and encourages others. Love knows that God can do the impossible. Love knows that all things are possible for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes. Love never gives up hope. Hope is the assurance that God will do exactly what He said. Love endures the discomforts of life. Love endures the disappointments of life. Love knows that if we endure, we will soon reap what God promises.
\” 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 (1 Corinthians 13:8).\”
A. God is love.
God is Alpha and Omega. He is the beginning and the ending but has no beginning and no ending. God does not change. He is the same today as He was in the past and will be in the future. God\’s love is manifested in what He continuously does for us.
B. The Bible is closed.
The New and Old Testaments are complete. There will be no new revelations. Some of the prophecies in the Bible have been fulfilled and some are yet to be fulfilled. There will be no new prophecies. You can\’t add anything to the Word and you can\’t take anything away from it.
C. The Gift of languages was given to the early Church to translate the Gospel in every known language.
We no longer have a need for that gift. We now have computers, cell phones and Ipads that can translate our voice into another language immediately. I can speak in English and my cell phone translate my message into any language I chose. We have numerous Bible Commentaries and language tools that help us gain a good understanding of God\’s Word. We have the super natural knowledge in front of us to use at our will. This supernatural gift of knowledge is no longer required..
WHAT WE WILL BECOME
\” For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away (1 Corinthians 13:9).\”
A. The Bible contains so much wisdom that we can never grasp all the knowledge that is contained in it. The Bible is the living Word and therefore constantly provides insight into our daily lives. We can study day and night and not know all there is to gain from the Word. Our minds can only absorb a limited amount of the wisdom that is contained in the Word.
B. While we are in the flesh, we are constantly under the influence of the world\’s thoughts and ideas. The world\’s thoughts can distract from the Word and distort our understanding. We live in the light of Jesus surrounded by darkness. When Jesus comes again to receive His Church, we will be in total light with no influence of darkness. Because we will be with Jesus in heaven, we will then have total knowledge. We will be transformed into immortality. Our Spirit will be released from the flesh and we will be one with Jesus. Being one with Jesus we will have all knowledge.
\” 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 (1 Corinthians 13:10).\”
This verse speaks to the maturity of the Church. A child is immature and filled with foolishness. A child has to be taught the wisdom of the Lord to make wise decisions. A child has to be taught the righteousness of God to know God.
When the church was in its\’ early stage, spiritual gifts such as language, prophecy and instant healings were needed to draw men to the Word. Now that the Church is mature, some of the spiritual gifts given to the early church are not needed. We have no need to claim one gift is more important than another.
\” 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( 1 Corinthians 13:12).\” Eph 4:13
Every one of us will has an appointed time to die to be with the Lord. All of our gifts are temporary, because we will not take them with us into heaven.We were born naked and will take nothing out of this world.
THE GREATEST CHARACTERISTIC
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity(1 Corinthians 13:13).
The greatest Gift is Love. We were born in Love and we will die in Love. God is Love; To be one with Jesus, is to be one in Love.
DO EVERYTHING IN TRUTH AND LOVE
Rev. M. Mitchell, Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church
Hi, there Rev, M Mitchell!
So, after reading through this post I see that you are pushing cessationism? I believe that when we Christians are Baptised or accept Jesus we receive the Holy Ghost. Now, if you like me believe that what then is the role of the Holy Ghost, in your opinion? God was powerful and is still powerful and can empower us to worship him through the speaking different languages. When non-Christians see this they too can see the evidence of faith, right? Now, I do not know what kind of Church you go to, but I am guess you must go to very ritualist where a lot of liturgy and responsive readings are used. Well, guess what? That is not the only way to praise the Lord, sometimes you need to get up, clap your hands, shout for joy! You, might even need to go visit a Pentecostal Church. Don’t wait do it today. You’ll thank me for this advice later.
The Holy Ghost is the power that drives the Church. As I study the Act Chapter 2, the gift of languages was given so that Gospel
could be preached to people who did not speak Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic or any of the languages that the Apostles spoke.
Jesus gave His disciples the great commission to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. To do that the disciples needed the
gift of languages(tongues) to communicate with people of other languages. Let’s not get hung up on this issue, the purpose
the of gifts is to save the lost and edify the Body of Christ.
Love
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Thanks for the encouragement
Hello Rev Mitchell,
Although, I am not a Christian I am happy to see that there are some Christians like yourself who are teaching the need to be ethical and moral. Sadly, you are in the minority to do so. Most Christians seem to be teaching from the cheap grace theology and the health/wealth theology. This is one reason why Atheist like myself believe the world will be a better place without religion. You seem to be a smart guy and I bet you too will come to that conclusion.
Regards
It is my prayer that you will accept Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life. It is His death on the cross that paid the price
for your sins and made away for you to receive eternal life. There is no perfect Church and there are no perfect people.
Don’t concern your self with what people are doing in the Church. Be concerned about where you will spend eternity,heaven or
hell. It is better to believe that there is a heaven than to die and find out that there is a heaven that you can’t get in because
of your unbelief.
Love
Like the site love the message.
Thanks for your encouragement.
Keep studying God’s and sharing it with others. God will bless you for your faithfulness
Love