The Only Solution

The way Paul writes to the Corinthian church makes it seem as if the church was rife with gross sins. But in reality, they were richly gifted by the Holy Spirit. In fact, much of what we know about spiritual gifts comes from them, and Paul’s letter shows how powerfully those gifts were operating in them. Yet even though the Corinthians had a great knowledge of the things of God, they lacked the love that Jesus commands of us. That’s why Paul strongly corrects them. 

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3, ESV).

Note Paul’s keyword: “nothing.” He was telling them they could never accomplish God’s purposes without Christ’s love; the lay-down-your-life-on-a-cross kind of love. It is a tall order, one that’s impossible except through the Spirit.

Now, this may sound like a surprising interpretation of 1 Corinthians 13. Most people think of it as the Bible’s “love chapter,” and even non-Christians recognize it from weddings. In that setting, 1 Corinthians 13 seems like a greeting card sentiment. In truth, this chapter is a counterpoint to all the carnal sins Paul listed in 2 Corinthians 12. That list includes quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.

Now look at the contrast: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). When we compare this list with the other, we begin to see 1 Corinthians 13 as a spiritual solution to the problem of sin; indeed, the only solution.

Friend, our character and actions should be shaped by the Spirit-empowered love of Christ. Our greatest gifts amount to nothing without that love in action.