Scripture
“If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.”
1 Corinthians 13:2-3 NLT
Observation
Two spheres are mentioned in this passage: the natural sphere and the spiritual sphere. Maybe in other words: things related to our faith and things relates to good deeds. Paul does not put down the importance of both of them in our lives, but he brings to attention that having those, without love, equals to nothing.
It is almost like an mathematic equation:
m = L (f + w) ;
where m is me or what I have gained, L is the love for others, f is my faith and spiritual growth, and w is the good deeds I do for others.
Of course, none of this variables can be measured by number but this equation is just a demonstration of how important love for others is in our lives.
Even if my spiritual life is so high and seems great, reaching the extremes of faith, without love, I would be nothing. If I live a self-sacrificing life to bless others, but do all without love, in the end, my gain is nothing.
Living on the extremes of both spheres, even it seems great at human’s eyes, if I don’t understand and live what true love for others means, the end of the equation would be zero.
But when we choose love for others to be an important aspect in our daily lives, everything we do on the natural and spiritual sphere will have a great increase on the result.
Maybe, the word for the variable “m” would be “satisfaction”.
Application
How much “love for others” do I have? Is it been more important than knowledge for me? Is it taking a bigger priority than doing “good deeds” in my life? More important than seeking a “faith that could move mountains”?
Make “love” an high priority in my life.
Prayer
Thank you God that you showed me the true meaning of the word “love”, through the life of Jesus. Help my to love others like you do. In Jesus’ name, I pray.
