have the power to destroy the rep utation of a fellow Christian. Al most everyone has learned how to say the right thing at the right time. The reason is not necessarily love, but more often than not, ex pediency. Love takes words out of the clat ter of the selfish market place and then makes them instruments of comfort and help. The dimensions of Biblical love indicate that with out the right motive or the right quality in our lives, these words are empty. While they may get what we want on a human level, in the eyes of Cod they have de tracted, rather than enhanced our position. GIFT OF PROPHECY In verse two, Paul moves to another level. He suggests that ev en though a person has a gift of prophecy which could edify and exhort, if it is not motivated by love, what real value is there to it? It is useless. The Apostle then pro ceeds to the simple aspect of proper discernment, showing that even though a person has the abil ity to understand what is going on in difficult situations, if love is not at the basic core of his life, it is all worthless. ALL KNOWLEDGE He also uses the word "knowl edge" in the second verse. This refers to the body of information a person might memorize or have close acquaintance with. Even this is of no real value in God's eyes unless the quality of love helps the person in the use of this particular concept. There are those who have very firm convictions about their stand, whatever that may be, but they will not win others because
they can at times be obnoxious in attempting to make their points. The listener may be turned aside, if not "turned off" altogether. What ever we do is not to be achieved by our own position in life. Unless our service issues through a deep love for others, it is simply selfish ness. We know that it is possible for individuals to have great in sight into Scripture. When they use that information for personal prof it, either financially or to further their own position, it is a waste of time. Paul is suggesting in a Chris tian ministry sense that if love does not dominate even the quality of teaching by lip and by life, we are on the wrong track. The equation would read, "ability, given by Cod, minus love, equals nothing!" FAITH WITHOUT LOVE Paul underscores love repeated ly in this important chapter. In verse three he seems to lift it even above faith. Yet, he is not talking here specifically about the concept of faith which makes an individual a believer in Christ. This is faith in a much broader context. What he is saying is, "What is the use of removing mountains if one does not do it through a heart of love?" The ancient philosopher Plato deprecated a man who had tre mendous skill but lacked virtue in the application of his ability. He believed that unless a man was motivated by virtue he was of no value in that particular community. Today, in education, we talk about the skills of an educated person being "amoral." That means they are neither good nor bad. An in dividual can take these skills and use them for ulterior motives. And every issue of the daily newspaper amply illustrates this fact. If our Page 25
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