1 Corinthians 12:31-14:1
The argument is that wonderful as a “way” is that is enriched by miracles and healings and tongues, a walk with God, in the energy of the nature of God–that is, love–is much more wonderful, and very much more to be desired. Love is conformity to the nature of God–the expression of what He is.
Love acts in benevolence to others; it is the opposite of selfishness. It has its source within. It is not moved fundamentally by circumstances. Its strength is independent of outward things–even of the objects which it blesses. Thus it can bless men in circumstances which usually produce irritation or jealousy. It acts according to its own nature, for love is its own motive.
It feeds others, not itself; hence the first eight qualities of love (1 Corinthians 13:4-5) express renunciation of self. Where love is, reality is; it never changes; it is always itself.
Miracles, like childhood, pass away, but love never does. A man may possess all “gifts”, but if destitute of this Divine Nature, he is a stranger to God and to grace. For gift is not grace. Balaam was a gifted man, but he was by choice an enemy of the truth.
Miracles, healings, and tongues characterize childhood, but love and preaching characterize manhood (1 Corinthians 14:1). Love saw nothing in these miraculous powers, but instruments to be used for the good of others and not for the gratification of self, or for the promotion of self-importance. The great things that love aims at is the profit of others; hence the importance of preaching, for it edifies, encourages, and comforts.
But in Corinth, as today in Christendom, men exercised spiritual gifts for their own selfish enjoyment, or in order to attract the admiration of others unto themselves. This is selfish vanity, rather than love.
The God of all grace may not withdraw the gifts from those who use them unworthily, but this by no means indicates He approves of how they are being used. God blessed Solomon in measures far above the usual. But in the end, Solomon did not use what God had given him to glorify the Lord. The parable of the talents (Matthew 25) reveals that the giving of gifts do not guarantee those who receive them will, or are, using them for the God intended purpose. But in the judgment, all the gifted will be judged as to whether they used their gifts for the God intended purpose.
SHARING
