THE KING’S BUSINESS
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and of angels,” a man upon whom the Spirit fell in such mighty power that not only the Pentecostal wonder would be repeated and Parthians and Medes and Elamites and Libyans and Romans and Cretes and Arabians hear men talking in their own tongues, but also the man would talk with the tongue of angels as well as the tongues of men. This would indeed be great and marvelous in the eyes of the world, but Paul says that even though that should happen, still if that man had not love he would only be a brazen noise. The world looks at the eloquence on a man’s lips. God looks at the love in His heart. The gifts of the Spirit are greatly to be desired, but the graces of the Spirit are far more to be desired, especially the grace of love (ch. 12:31). Love is pre-eminently the best gift (ch. 8:1; Gal. 5:6, 22; 1 Tim. 3:5 R. V.; 1 Peter 4:8 R, V.) Paul now brings forward another and greater gift, and one also richly possessed in Corinth, “The gift of prophecy.” He describes this gift in its very highest potency, “and know all mysteries and all knowledge.” Surely that is something to be greatly coveted and admired. A man of great theological and spiritual insight, surely he must occupy the very highest place in the mind of God. But Paul says, that depends. If he has love, yes; if not, he is just “nothing.” How that lays the man who is reputed “a seer,” but is not a lover of his fellowmen, in the dust! God’s estimates of men vary widely from our own (Matt. 27:22, 23; John 13:33) , Then Paul takes up, a third thing, a gift that is supposed to give men great pre-eminence in the sight of God, miracle working faith. Paul says a man may have even this in the most powerful form con ceivable, all faith, so as to remove moun tains” and yet if he has not love, he is “NOTHING.” Those who are counting on their gifts of healing and other extraordi nary manifestations of “faith” to commend them to God, would better ask this, have I love? Some of them do not seem to have, according Jo the description given below in verses 4-7. Then Paul touches upon a
fourth thing that men count upon much as recommending, them to God’s favor, namely, beneficence. Surely the man who gives largely is great in God’s sight, j “Not neces- sarily,” Paul replies. “Indeed, you may give all you have and give for the most phil anthropic purpose, to feed, the poor, but-if you have not love you will gain by it, just NOTHING.” How many false hopes that annihilates! (Matt. 6 :l-4; 23:5). And now Paul takes up a fifth thing, and that which above all others is supposed to entitle one to a crown—martyrdom. If I give my body to be burned at the stake, through my devotion to the faith, that will surely bring me great reward. “No,” says Paul, “not necessarily.” Though I do even this, if I have not love it profits me “NOTH ING.” Gifts of speech, great knowledge of the things of God, miracle working faith, the greatest possible giving, extreme martyrdom, will not take the place of lojve. Love alone is the “still more excellent way,” the supreme gift, the gift beyond compare, the one and one absolutely essential thing. Have you it ? Friday, December ?. i Corinthians 13 : 4 . In the previous verses we have seen love contrasted; we have seen its absolute indis- pensibility; how nothing else will take its place, and we have been brought face to face with the question, Have I love? And now we have love described, and by such a description that we can tell whether we have love or not. A most remarkable description it is. It searches the innermost recesses.of-the heart and lays our pride in the dust, and makes us cry out, “God he merciful to me a sinner.” Love has fifteen marks that are never wanting: (1) It “suffers long.” It endures -injury after injury, insult after insult, and still it goes on loving. It wastes itself in vainly trying to help the unworthy, and still it loves on and helps on (cf. Gal. 5:22; Eph. 4:2; Col. 1:11). (2) “Love is kind.” Love knows no harshness, it may be severe, even as Jesus Himself was severe upon occa sion, but Its necessary severity is gentle
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