In writing to a church in which rivalry and self-centeredness had crowded out love and where the members were misusing their spiritual gifts, the Apostle Paul sought to provide his readers with a proper perspective of the ministry to which God had called him.
Paul used the analogy of the human body to illustrate truths relating to Christ's body, the church. As the human body has one head and many members, so too does the church (1 Cor. 12:12). As the human body gets direction and guidance from the head, so a local church has only one head—Christ.
Elsewhere, the Bible makes it clear that church leaders who have oversight over the congregation are accountable to Christ, “the chief Shepherd” (1 Pet. 5:4), for how they lead.
Paul noted that the Holy Spirit sovereignly gives to all believers a variety of spiritual gifts that have different functions (1 Cor. 12:1-30). Despite their differences, all work harmoniously together under the supervision of the Head, Christ. Paul then referred to a characteristic of life that should be desired above any spiritual gift: “But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way” (1 Cor. 12:31). The word “covet” means “to desire.” “Excellent” denotes “a super-excellent way.” Paul went on to state that the “more excellent way” (1 Cor. 12:31) was love (1 Cor. 13:1-3).
The Greek word for love in I Corinthians 13 is agapē, which designates the highest, most noble kind of love. Its emphasis is on the preciousness of the object loved. The Holy Spirit imparts this love to believers at the moment of salvation (Rom. 5:5). It is the love which is part of God's nature (I John 4:8). God's love is greater than “the tongues of man and of angels” (1 Cor. 13:1). It is also greater than faith that is capable of removing mountains (vs. 2).
Since the best way to understand agapē love is to observe it in action, Paul mentioned several positive ingredients that will be produced in a believer's life by God's unhindered love (1 Cor. 13:4-7); he intermingled those with negatives things that divine love does not produce.
Agapē love is patient, respectful, and does not covet; it refrains from arrogant bragging (1 Cor. 13:4). It matures in good behavior; it is not self-seeking or easily angered, and it refuses to hold grudges (vs. 5). Agapē love delights in the truth (1 Cor. 13:6), but it is saddened when people stray from the Bible. This kind of love sees the positive side of issues, bearing, believing, and enduring (vs. 7).
Agapē is superior to all spiritual gifts. Paul specially mentioned three temporary gifts—prophecies, tongues, and knowledge (1 Cor. 13:8)--that were used prominently in the early church but are no longer needed.
In contrast, believers are gloriously amazing “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Pet. 1:4) as a result of the new birth (John 3:3, 5). Since it is God's nature to love, believers should love. Love should be a prominent characteristic of each believer. Paul said, “Love never fails” (1 Cor. 13:8). It does not “vanish away” as is true of temporary gifts.
Paul looked forward to being changed when Christ returns (1 Cor. 13:10; 15:52). The prospect made him think of his childhood and growing to maturity that will reach its fullest extent when Christ returns (Eph. 4:13).
Although Paul was a mature Christian, he knew his spiritual insights were limited. All that would change when he would meet Christ “face to face” (1 Cor. 13:12). Then, the scales of terrestrial darkness would be removed from his eyes forever.
While faith and hope are important in the Christian life, love towers as Mount Everest's highest peak in the triad (1 Cor 13:13).
A great need exists in churches today. When God's people gather for worship and spiritual instruction from God's Word, they need to see that love prevails. Love produces harmony, motivates people to pray, and fills hearts with compassion in soul-winning.
Needless, to say if all the members in a local church body would manifest the gift of love, much can be accomplished with respect to their corporate purposes of honoring and glorifying the Lord.
Love in positive action will cure any church ill. It will put the brakes on gossip that majors in belittling other saints. It has been observed that gossiping is the art of saying nothing while leaving nothing unsaid.
Love will prompt the heart to forgive a fellow believer. It will remove barriers in relationships and give the soul freedom needed to serve the Lord with a sharp focus and full delight. A believer who is motivated by love will have the greatest potential to please the Lord in his daily walk.
The spiritual gifts listed in the New Testament are only representative of the many other gifts that God gives to believers. Whenever, God sees a need anywhere in the world, He has unlimited power and wisdom to equip a believer to meet that need.
When a pastor on Long Island, New York, I learned of a man with Lou Gehrig's disease who wanted to be saved. His mind was clear despite his emaciated body. When the Lord directed me to show the man His love, I drove fifty miles to witness to him, and he trusted Christ as Savior. There was great rejoicing (Acts 16:30-31).
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