us distinct. Love is not the great est means by which we can dem onstrate that we are like Christ. It is a means to an end of being like Christ. Love needs to have a goal that has been set and estab lished. It needs to be hedged in by Biblical perimeters so that we see it in its proper light. The prop er understanding comes when love is focused on Cod Himself. SOUNDING BRASS One of the most important as pects in the concept of love is pre sented to us by the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 13. Here we read, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as a sound ing brass, or a tinkling symbol." This certainly suggests that love is greater than words. If our com ments do not issue from a heart of love, they are of no value what soever. The context of this book reminds us that there were people who came to Corinth using words in a most effective and persuasive fashion. Some brought unusual and fanciful ideas, trying to capture the imagination of those who listened. Not so with Paul for he says, "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power." There are always those who, with eloquence and power of words, will seek to impress others. What is said can have a tremendous impact on people. By a single command the President of the United States can initiate military action. A judge, sitting in court, can state his deci sion only to pass a sentence alter ing the entire course of an indi vidual's life. Closer at hand, we can speak a false rumor which may
but perhaps it is dead as well. To be very blunt, love without self- control may mean that love is dead. Love without joy may mean that love is dead. Love without peace may mean that a Christian is not living the kind of a life that he should. Love, as great as it is, is not the Christian's major objective or end in life. Love is a quality which when properly found in our lives, helps us to do what we ought to do. It is a treasure quality. It is designed to help us to be like Christ. This should be our real goal or objec tive in life. You can say that you are a man or woman of great faith, but unless you can demonstrate that through the fruit of the Spirit, it does not make you a distinctive Christian. By the same token, you can say, "I have a great deal of hope. I hope that I will get out of debt. I hope that my child will have greater success in school. I hope that my husband will be able to get a promotion." You can hope almost anything. Still, these things do not make you distinct. Faith that is in Christ's ability to save is a Biblical quality. When properly applied it makes our life distinc tive. So it is not simply the con cept or quality of faith but rather the object of faith. Similarly, our hope is in the return of our Sav iour, Jesus Christ. There are a lot of people who seek to demonstrate the quality of love. But, by the same token, sim ply because you love other people does not make you distinctive in Cod's eyes. Love, focused on Christ, and then through Him on the world for whom He died, be comes a quality that provides a dimension in our lives that makes
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