LOVE’S MOTIVATION (1)

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal – 1 Corinthians 13: 1 (NIV).

Paul the apostle had established in chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians that there are many gifts in the church, all of which were important. Here, he focused on “the most excellent way,” the greatest gift to the church – LOVE (1 Cor.12:31). The questions arise: How can we discern genuine love? What distinguishes Biblical Love from the world’s fakery and counterfeit ‘love’? The thirteenth chapter reveals love’s priority – its motivation, character and enduring quality.

First, let us meditate on LOVE’s MOTIVATION. In a series of unusual hyperboles, Paul expressed his absolute commitment to the priority of love over other spiritual virtues. He described five different hypothetical scenarios in which he might display incredible devotion: “though I SPEAK with the tongues of men and of angels…”; “though I HAVE the gift of prophecy…all faith…”; “though I BESTOW all my goods to feed the poor…”; and “though I GIVE my body to be burned…” (KJV). In each case, he utterly devalued these devotions in the absence of love. What is the driving force behind my parade of proclamations, prophecy, power, generosity, and sacrifice?

In summary: every extraordinary gift profits nothing without love. Spectacular display of spirituality, distinctive eloquence, great charisma, knowledge, seemingly noble deeds and sacrificial acts take on value only as they are motivated by love. Great and mighty deeds are of least value if they are not driven by divine love. Each of these stands in need of examination through the prism of love.

A noisy gong would be more valuable than the most spectacular display of spirituality that is devoid of love. It matters little how much the person may arouse, excite, entertain, impress, and move thousands. It would amount to irritating, disruptive, and meaningless clamour. Is this not a warning to the modern church with the trend toward noisy entertainment and ecstatic and flamboyant displays of so-called spirituality in the guise of demonstrating spiritual gifts? Without love for others all spiritual gifts are practically worthless.