“In this life we have three great
lasting qualities – faith, hope and love. But the greatest
of them is love”. 1 Corinthians 13: 13.
Many regard this as one f the most quotable, inspiring and
beautiful chapters in the Bible. They liken it to the 23rd
Psalm and parts of the Sermon on the Mount.
Described as Paul’s hymn in praise of love he uses words
and thought forms to convey what he wants to say simply, precisely
and pungently. It is his statement on what should be the aims,
attitudes and actions of Christians, individually and collectively.
He describes qualities and characteristics of a humanity true
to itself when it shows love for God and for people, practically
and unselfishly.
He discards what people often regard as important when he
contends that only love has permanence, for live is humanity’s
possession of inestimable value.
St. Augustine describes it: “It is love that asks, that
seeks, that knows, that finds, and that is faithful to what
it finds”. And Henry Ward Beecher who adds on love: “The
greater lever by which to raise and save the world is the
unbounded love and mercy of God”. Paul says, talent,
skill, health and wealth are shortlived, passing, while love
is lasting.
The poem has been seen as Paul’s thinking on the life
of Jesus. It is his portrait of Him in His words and deeds.
His dealing with people and their problems. He is telling
his readers to look to Jesus and to strive to be like Him
in their behaviour; their treatment of others and their valuation
on themselves.
What he said here to the Christians at Corinth who often
needed plain speaking and the strong words of correction for
conduct that was unworthy of their Christian profession, is
as relevant and necessary when addressed to Christians in
very age, for the weaknesses of those to whom Paul wrote are
present in all those who read him in whatever situation and
location.
He speaks of those who regard speaking in tongues as of special
significance, and while allowing that to be a gift of God
he says it is no more to be valued than the din of heathen
worship, the clanging of symbols and the noise of trumpets
if love is absent.
And of the preacher whose skill in communication is evident
for he works hard at his craft, but unless there is loving
concern for those who whom he preaches it is of no value.
The Corinthians loved oratory, they admired fluency of speech,
quick wit, the ready turn of phrase, and the ability to move
people by what was said and how it was said. Paul tells them
that neither eloquent speech nor speaking in tongues are comparable
in value to the love that draws people to God and to each
other.
There is a history of loveless oratory and it has adversely
affected the Christian faith with its inflammatory rhetoric
denunciations and condemnations in the name of Jesus Christ
who always spoke the truth in love, never in caustic contempt
for those who differed from Him.
Someone may have a high IQ but if it is not used wisely it
can be misused selfishly and disadvantageously to others.
Intellectual ability can turn into intellectual snobbery to
be divisive and hurtful in personal and community relationships.
Intelligence and skill are most useful when made available
to the community in which the able and gifted live. It is
weakened when those who have much to give, give little; when
what they could give is sorely needed.
Someone may have a passionate faith. It must not be cruel
in its treatment of others whose beliefs are different or
who are seeking sympathy and understanding in their lives.
A man was told that his heart was tired and he must rest.
He was shattered when telling about his illness to his employer,
a prominent churchman, he got the response, “I have an
inner faith which allows me to carry on regardless of anything”.
Meant as a testimony to the man’s faith but a faith selfish
and unsympathetic, insensitive, hurtful and un-Christian.
He needed to be reminded that “if you neglect your love
for your neighbour, in vain you profess your love for God,
the love to your neighbour, your love to God is nourished”.
Someone may be generous in his giving to good causes but
if he gives to be noticed and praised it is ill intentioned.
Nothing can be more belittling to a person then to receive
something from another who is just doing a duty and is not
a giver who cares for him in his distress.
Someone may give his life but his sacrifice is in vain if
its objective is not worthy of it. We know of such sacrifices
and regret and deplore them.
These thoughts we have gathered from 1st Corinthians 13,
but the best commentary on the hymn in praise of love is itself.
We may read, learn and inwardly digest it and live by it
to our great advantage.
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