The Danger of Spiritual Gifts Without Love
1 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
We will be reading from .
But let’s first recap chapter 12.
Paul taught that we all have different gifts based on where God has placed in the body of Christ
Paul mentioned various gifts (non-exhaustive)...
Teaching gifts (v8)
Word of Wisdom
Word of Knowledge
Miraculous Gifts (v9-10)
word of wisdom
Faith
word of knowledge
Gifts of Healings
Working of Miracles
Prophetic Gifts (v10)
Prophecy
Discerning of Spirits
Different Kinds of Tongues
Interpretation of Tongues
Church Officers (v28)
Apostles
Prophets
Teachers
Helps (Deacons?)
Administrations (“Governments” KJV, Greek word used of piloting a ship, possibly refers to the senior leader of a local church)
Now let’s read chapter 13
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 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. 3 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.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 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. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 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. 12 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.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
We can summarise this passage as follows:
The danger of gifts without love (vs 1-3)
A description of love (vs 4-7)
The permanence of love contrasted with the impermanence of gifts (vs 8-13)
The danger of gifts without love
The danger of gifts without love
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 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. 3 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.
Tongues without love is just noise.
Prophetic gifts, amazing knowledge, great faith, but no love, you are nothing.
If you have an amazing gift of charity, or even lay down your life for the gospel, but don’t have love, it won’t benefit you.
Paul is not saying that we don’t need gifts. He is saying that we also need love.
Paul’s description of love
Paul’s description of love
“love suffers long”
“love suffers long”
"Longsuffering is that quality of selfrestraint in the face of provocation which does not hastily retaliate or promptly punish; it is the opposite of anger, and is associated with mercy...” * From Notes on Thessalonians, by Hogg and Vine, pp. 183, 184.
“love is kind”
“love is kind”
showing goodness to others in a manner and disposition that is warmhearted, compassionate, considerate, gracious, sympathetic and gentle.
Kindness is not just what you do, but the way you do it!
kindness (quality) n. — the quality of being warmhearted, considerate, humane, gentle, and sympathetic.
“love does not envy”
“love does not envy”
Because love wants to see others succeed”
“love does not parade itself”
“love does not parade itself”
It doesn’t boast. It doesn’t make others feel inferior.
It is sensitive to the insecurities of others
“love is not puffed up”
“love is not puffed up”
Because love focuses on the goodness of others, there is no room for being overly impressed with yourself!
“love does not behave rudely”
“love does not behave rudely”
Love always considers how its mannerisms might affect the mood and self-esteem of others.
“love does not seek its own”
“love does not seek its own”
Love is not totally absorbed in its own world, without consideration and concern for the well-being of others. It is not selfish!
“love is not provoked”
“love is not provoked”
Love doesn’t have a short fuse!
You don’t have to walk on egg shells around someone filled with love.
People should feel safe and secure around us.
“love thinks no evil”
“love thinks no evil”
Love doesn’t keep a record of people’s wrongs.
Love is willing to forgive and leave the past in the past.
“love does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in the truth”
“love does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in the truth”
Love knows that sin in people’s lives, will send them to hell.
Love knows that sin in people’s lives, will send them to hell.
Therefore, love does not rejoice when people break God’s laws, because love doesn’t want anyone to perish.
Love does not want anyone to go to hell.
However, when people live according to God’s truth, love rejoices.
“love bears all things”
“love bears all things”
“love bears all things”
Love is willing to be inconvenienced for the well-being of others.
We must be careful not to take this to an extreme. For example, a victim of domestic violence should not be told to just grin and bear it because love bears all things! Common sense applies.
“love believes all things”
“love believes all things”
Love is ready to believe the best about people.
This does not mean that we are to be gullible.
It does mean that we don’t think the worst of people, but are ready to see the good.
“love hopes all things”
“love hopes all things”
Love hopes the best for people.
“love endures all things”
“love endures all things”
Love continues to love those who mistreat them!
We could perhaps summarise all this by saying: love is compassionate and selfless devotion to the well-being of others.
Love is permanent, gifts are temporary
Love is permanent, gifts are temporary
8 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. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 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. 12 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.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
You can have all the prophetic revelation in the world, and still not have a complete understanding of God. We know in part and prophesy in part.
However, when we see God face to face, we will understand perfectly. There will be no more need for the gift of prophecy, or for any of the gifts of the Spirit.
However, there are three things that we have now, that continue right into eternity: faith (out trust in and commitment to God), hope and love (which is the greatest).
Therefore, if we do not have love, we are not ready for eternity!
Summary
Summary
Gifts without love is not an option, neither is love without gifts; we need them both!
Love is compassionate and selfless devotion to the well-being of others.
Gifts are temporary, love is forever.
Discussion / Prayer Time
Discussion / Prayer Time
Discuss today’s message. What aspect(s) of love do you think are most challenging?
Spend some time praying for each other’s requests, and that we would grow in our love-walk.
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