1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (CEB)
If I speak in tongues of human beings and of angels but I don’t have love, I’m a clanging gong or a clashing cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and I know all the mysteries and everything else, and if I have such complete faith that I can move mountains but I don’t have love, I’m nothing. If I give away everything that I have and hand over my own body to feel good about what I’ve done but I don’t have love, I receive no benefit whatsoever.
Love is patient, love is kind, it isn’t jealous, it doesn’t brag, it isn’t arrogant, it isn’t rude, it doesn’t seek its own advantage, it isn’t irritable, it doesn’t keep a record of complaints, it isn’t happy with injustice, but it is happy with the truth. Love puts up with all things, trusts in all things, hopes for all things, endures all things.
Love never fails. As for prophecies, they will be brought to an end. As for tongues, they will stop. As for knowledge, it will be brought to an end. We know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, what is partial will be brought to an end. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, reason like a child, think like a child. But now that I have become a man, I’ve put an end to childish things. Now we see a reflection in a mirror; then we will see face-to-face. Now I know partially, but then I will know completely in the same way that I have been completely known. Now faith, hope, and love remain—these three things—and the greatest of these is love.
This is probably one of the best-known passages in all the Bible.
I have read this passage at hundreds of weddings over the years --- even though it has nothing to do with romantic love.
Occasionally, it has been used as a part of the eulogy at a funeral --- and to be honest, I cannot imagine better words being spoken about someone.
I Corinthians 13 points to both the challenges and the rewards of self-giving love.
This letter was written to the Corinthian community at a time in which they were struggling with what it meant to be in community together.
If you remember, two weeks ago we listened to chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians. We talked about the ways that God gifts all of us with the desire that we use those gifts to the benefit of all --- the common good.
Chapter 14 continues this discussion of spiritual gifts, particularly the gift of speaking in what is often called tongues (or glossolalia).
While it seems apparent from the text that the Corinthians were over-emphasizing the importance of this gift of speaking in tongues ---
Paul is encouraging the community to recognize the necessity of all spiritual gifts
and cautioning the Corinthian community that the practice of speaking in tongues must go hand in hand with the interpretation of those tongues along with prophecy.
That is the theme of chapter 14
Kind of weird having Chapter 13 right here --- smack dab in the middle --- but I think if one is to look at all three chapters carefully together it makes perfect sense.
Chapter 13 is the core --- the center of the spiritual gifts.
Without love --- as Paul tells us --- well let’s listen to what he has to say:
If I speak in tongues of human beings and of angels but I don’t have love, I’m a clanging gong or a clashing cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and I know all the mysteries and everything else, and if I have such complete faith that I can move mountains but I don’t have love, I’m nothing.
Paul is reminding us that without love – whatever gift we have is not worth very much.
What captures me about this chapter is Paul is shredding the hallmark/harlequin romance aspects of love --- you know that silly and sloppy sentimentality type of love
and reminding us that the love of which he speaks --- MUST be the foundational ethic for the Christian community.
Even amid the differences that the Corinthian community found itself --- and when you read the letter it is clear that were lots of problems --- Paul is urging the community to pursue love.
We could spend many mornings going through all of the various aspects of love that Paul presents --- but I don’t think that is necessary.
But I am fascinated how he ends this section.
After going through all these attributes of love
Love is patient,
love is kind,
love isn’t jealous,
love doesn’t brag,
love isn’t arrogant,
love isn’t rude,
love doesn’t seek its own advantage,
love isn’t irritable,
love doesn’t keep a record of complaints,
love isn’t happy with injustice, but it is happy with the truth.
Love puts up with all things, trusts in all things, hopes for all things, endures all things.
Love never fails.
After all of these attributes --- Paul ends by saying:
Now faith, hope, and love remain—these three things—and the greatest of these is love.
Love is greater than faith --- greater than believing
Love is greater than hoping
Love is the greatest
Love is what should be at the center of our lives.
That is what Jesus taught.
Remember when Jesus was asked by the pharisee: (Matthew 22)
“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Love is the core of our Christian faith
Love for God
Love for our neighbor
Which gets me back to our theme of setting sail.
As we get ready to leave the safe harbor --- what is going to fill our sails?
Many things can be the driving force in our lives
Success
Ambition
Conviction
Recognition
Honor
I tried to pick those words carefully --- because by themselves they can be rather neutral.
And I think that is how most of us look at what drives us
“I am just pursuing the American Dream --- what is wrong with that”
Nothing by itself
While those are strong and at times significant winds --- quoting the words of Paul: “I’m going to show you an even better way.”
And what is that better way --- or as the NRSV puts it: “a still more excellent way”
LOVE
I think when it comes right down to it --- the two most powerful winds in our lives are love and fear.
Yes, we often let other things blow us around --- but the strongest winds --- the central winds --- the core winds
Are love and fear
All those things that drive us --- have at their core either love or fear.
What drives us to success?
What pushes our ambition?
Love or Fear
Abraham Maslow, who helped popularize what became known as humanistic psychology and developed his hierarchy of need stated:
“In any given moment, we have two options: to step forward into growth or to step back into safety.”
Growth takes place when we are not driven by fear but by possibility.
But setting out of the safe harbor is scary
And we often let our fear and uncertainty hold us back.
Paul is constantly calling us to focus on love and let it guide us.
Brené Brown put it this way:
“To love someone fiercely, to believe in something with your whole heart, to celebrate a fleeting moment in time, to fully engage in a life that doesn’t come with guarantees—these are risks that involve vulnerability and often pain. But, I’m learning that recognizing and leaning into the discomfort of vulnerability teaches us how to live with joy, gratitude, and grace.”
Brené has taught us how important being vulnerable is --- and vulnerability is the willingness to set sail.
She writes:
“Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path.”
What fills your sails?
Are you willing to leave the safety of the harbor and let God’s love guide you?
You probably have heard this story before --- but I want to share it because it seems to illustrate the power of both vulnerability and love.
Wanda Dench sent a text to her grandson inviting him for Thanksgiving dinner, in 2016.
What Wanda didn’t realize at the time was that her grandson had changed his phone number.
Instead of her grandson receiving the invitation --- a high school student by the name of Jamal Hinton, received it instead
After a few texts --- They both quickly realized the mistake.
But Jamal asked if he could still come for dinner.
Wanda told him, “Of course you can. That’s what grandmas do…feed everyone.”
This past thanksgiving was their 6th Thanksgiving in which Jamal and Wanda celebrate together.
Jamal now, brings his family and his girlfriend to this special thanksgiving gathering.
If this had happened to you --- how would you have handled it?
Many of us might have thought to wish Jamal well, and maybe even told him, “Happy Thanksgiving”, and let it go at that.
Wanda, however, had the spirit of God’s love blowing in her sails.
She said that saw this as an opportunity for God’s grace to shine through.
Rumi, was a 13th century Muslim mystic, scholar, and poet from ancient Persia --- who, as recently as 2014, has been described as the best-selling poet in the United States --- Rumi echoes the message of Paul when he wrote:
“If you knew the secret of life, you too would choose no other companion but love.”
May we fill our sail with the breath of God
A God who loves us
A God who continually gifts us with the tools necessary
A God who invites us to love with the same love.
Yesterday, at the annual board retreat for Family Promise, we were blessed to have Tyrone Russell with us to help us uncover and improve our cultural awareness.
It was a fantastic, and way too short 2 ½ hours to discuss and discern our biases.
And one of the many things that he shared was that we are biased toward the status quo.
And I am convinced that is true.
We want to play it safe and are afraid of what we don’t know.
My prayer is that you may have the courage to become vulnerable enough to leave the safety of the status quo
It is the only way that you can set sail
And as you leave the safety of the harbor
May your sails be filled with the love, courage and generosity of our God.
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