A Nugget from New Life Network
(by Dr. Larry Ollison)
Scripture for the Day (April 18,2018)
He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (1 John 4:8)
While there are many places in the New Testament that talk about the gift of tongues, there are two chapters that are prominent in this teaching. They are First Corinthians 12, and First Corinthians 14. Sandwiched between these two chapters is First Corinthians 13, a chapter that is known for its teaching on love. Chapter 13 starts out by saying, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal” (v. 1). This opening verse clearly tells us that whether we speak in an earthly language or a heavenly language, our words must be soaked in agape love. If our words, whether earthly or heavenly, whether understandable or unintelligible, do not contain love, they are nothing but noise.
Then Paul goes on to say that even if he has the gift of prophecy and has the ability to understand all the mysteries and even if he can attain great knowledge, and even though he has mountain-moving faith, without love, he is nothing (v. 2). But then he continues by talking about good works and how regardless of how good his works are, even if he sells everything and gives up everything so that others can be helped, if he doesn’t have love, all of his actions are totally unprofitable (v. 3).
Then he gives the definition of love in great detail. When we examine this definition, we will find that it is very similar to the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23. Paul describes love this way. He says that love suffers long and is kind, that it does not envy and it’s not arrogant, boastful, or puffed up. He said love does not behave rudely and does not think of itself first. It’s not easily provoked and does not think about evil. This godly love does not rejoice when it sees sin, but rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. And then Paul sums up his definition by saying this, love never fails. (vv. 4-8.)
He continues by reminding us that prophecies, tongues, and knowledge are only for a temporary purpose and are a partial revelation of the full revelation we will someday receive. While faith, hope, and love are the pillars of our Christian walk, the greatest of the three is love. (vv. 9-13.)
As a young Christian, I would sometimes wonder why Paul interrupted his teaching on spiritual gifts with a teaching on love. But as the years have passed, I’ve come to understand that many divisions in the earthly organized church are a result of theological positions and doctrines with the absence of love. God is love and regardless of how great a ministry attempts to be or how spiritual they may appear, if love is absent, so is God. When the nine parts of the fruit of the Spirit are united as one fruit, we could say this. The fruit of the Spirit is love.
