“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:2)
If all you have is love, as far as God is concerned, you have something. But if you possess everything else but lack love, you have nothing. The pinnacle of Christian doctrine is love. It is the chief of all virtues and ranked above all spiritual gifts.
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul concluded his exposition on spiritual gifts by asking the church to desire for the greater spiritual gifts. The last verse of that chapter is very interesting because it is the introduction to his next subject which is love.
“Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.” (1 Corinthians 12:31)
After encouraging them to desire spiritual gifts, he then announces that the next subject he is moving to is the “most excellent way.” What else can be better than the most excellent way?
At the end, Paul did not mince words when he concluded with his last statement on love.
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)
May God help us to always live with the understanding that Love is better by far than all the qualities we can ever have in life.
Remain inspired!
