NOTHING WITHOUT LOVE
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not loveG26, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not loveG26, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not loveG26, I gain nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
No gift, talent, or character quality is substantive without love. If I am speaking eloquently or even in tongues but am devoid of love, I’m just obnoxiously noisy. If I can speak truth with all understanding and even if I have faith strong enough to move mountains, I am nothing—worthless. If I am generous to the point of giving everything I have and am even martyred for my faith, and do not have love, there is nothing to gain from all my sacrifice. Love must be the foundational motivation behind exercising any of my God-given gifts. The bottom line is that our spiritual gifts remain ineffective if the use of them is not motivated by love for others. We are to surrender ourselves to God as instruments of His love. Love must be the conduit through which our God-given gifts flow.
As you exercise your gifts, do a heart-check to make sure you are doing so out of love. If your gift is teaching, are you teaching because you love your students? If you are helping someone, is it out of duty or sense of obligation, or is it from a heart of love for God and others? If you are preaching the word of God, is it because it is your job or because God has given you a love and concern for others? If you are being merciful, is it motivated by pity or love? Pray with us that God infuses you with His love and His power to share that love in all you do.
Father, in Philippians 4:13, we learn that You infuse us with Your strength to accomplish all You have called us to do. We pray to be filled with Your love for others and to let that love motivate us to use the gifts and resources You have given us to bless others and to bring glory to Your name.