Rev. Don Campbell

1 Corinthians 12-14

THOUGHT FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 2, 2019

“THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION”

Immediately following opening remarks of the Corinthian epistle, Paul goes on the offensive against problems that were threatening to destroy this fledgling congregation. For 12 chapters he reproves, rebukes, and exhorts them. In chapter 13 Paul gives the ultimate solution to all their church problems and to all of ours. There is no issue that cannot be settled with all sides turn from factionalism to the ultimate solution:

“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. 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. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (13:1-13).

Books have been written on this one chapter; I simply offer a basic outline for your further consideration:

LOVE VALIDATES OUR RELATIONSHIP TO CHRIST AND HIS BODY (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

1. Tongues are just noise without love.
2. Prophecy, knowledge, and miracle-working faith are theatrics without love.
3. Sacrificial zeal without love is at best self-promoting and at worst useless asceticism and suicide (Colossians 2:20-23; Matthew 18:11-14).

A VALID LOVE IS DISCERNABLE (13:4-7)

1. By what it does.
2. By what it does not do.

LOVE IS PREEMINENT (1 Corinthians 13:8-13)

1. Because it is complete.
2. Because it is eternal.

CONNECTIONS

Instead of questions, ponder these quotations:

1. “Kindness has converted more sinners than zeal, eloquence, or learning.” (Frederick W. Fabe)
2. “Action is eloquence.” (William Shakespeare)
3. “The more I think it over, the more I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.” (Vincent van Gogh)
4. “We look forward to the time when the Power of Love will replace the Love of Power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace. (William E. Gladstone)
5. “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.” (Francis of Assisi)