1 Corinthians 13: The Final Metric

As romantic as this passage seems, we are actually supposed to feel its teeth. In Paul’s mind, he did not intend this to be read at weddings (though it is an appropriate application), but he rather it was a sharp rebuke. The Corinthians could claim such things as the gifts of tongues, prophecy and faith. They were educated, knowledgeable and had the capacity to solve real world problems with their wealth. Some would even go to the extent of martyrdom.

To the upper class culture in Corinth, these things would speak to them of being excellent. But without love, they count for zero (0.00, nothing, nada, zippo) before God--nothing at all. For us, we often think about excellence in our ministry, our programs, and marketplace performance in. We measure ourselves and others by excellence Paul warns us that we could achieve a certain kind of excellence and completely miss God.

Paul teaches us that the most excellent way is the way of love. In fact, our programs, our miracles, our sacrificial generosity are absolutely nothing without love. Why? They become self-affirming acts to soothe our own conscience, display our acts before others and possibly even make a name for ourselves. None of this has anything to do with God, or even other people for that matter.

It is tempting to grit our teeth and say, “I will be more loving, less rude, less envious, etc.” The most excellent way is not a way that we can find by searching within or by mimicking the actions of others. The most excellent way is only found in our communion with love itself. As we find ourselves “in Christ” as Paul we speak of in other places, and as we practice that in real life, love will become more of a reality in our lives.

Posted by Marc