Bible Reading Challenge #40

1 Corinthians 13:1–3

“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.”

Paul makes a bold statement:
It doesn’t matter what you can do — if you do it without love, it’s meaningless. Without love, all your spiritual gifts, your knowledge, your sacrifice, and your faith amount to nothing.

A problem had taken root in Corinth. The people were spiritual, but they weren’t loving. They boasted about their gifts or envied those who seemed more gifted. They desired to look spiritual more than they desired to love others purely.

The modern church isn’t immune to this either.
We often exalt leaders who are charismatic and gifted, yet lack love. Some live with hidden sin, build their own platforms, and mistreat those around them — but because they’re impressive on stage, they’re praised and quoted as heroes of the faith.

Corinth was no different. They were drawn to “superheroes” of Christianity rather than servants marked by love.

But the people of God must be people of love.
Love toward God.
Love toward your spouse.
Love toward your children.
Love toward your coworkers.
Love toward your neighbors.
Love even toward your enemies.

So let’s ask ourselves:
Are we people of love — or just people of spiritual performance?
Do we want to appear spiritual, or do we truly want to love like Jesus?

Because without love, we gain nothing.