1 Corinthians 13:1-13 The greatest of these is charity

1 Corinthians 13:1-13

It is not enough to be able to be able to communicate with humanity or on a spiritual level. Love, or charity is the channel through which all communication must pass. Charity is not merely love, neither is it merely a giving of love or compassion. Charity is something that can only come from Jesus Christ as in when our hearts are moved with compassion with no thought to our own personal benefit.

The sounding brass was actually a piece of brass with a piece of tin fused onto it to create a full yet tinny sound. The pagan priests of Corinth would beat on this "sounding brass" incessantly throughout the day to intone the spirits. The priests would often beat the "sounding brass" in a frenzied manner. On the other hand, if we take the Greek word for Tinkling and Cymbal and put them together in the way they are used here it actually becomes a term that is used to describe the Jewish call to war.

Understanding and being able to communicate with humanity and on a spiritual level without love/Charity is nothing more than a noisy gong or a call to war. People are more apt to hear what others have to say if they feel like the other person has their good in mind and cares about them as a person.

When you have God’s heart and mind about the situation, you’ll be able to deal with it in the spirit of Jesus. Love and humility are essential to showing the mind of Christ.

Love is the foundation of all the Law and the prophets and is the fulfillment of them.

The spiritual gifts that God has given us are not and end in themselves, but are an avenue for the gospel (God's Message of Love) to be expressed. The declaration of Truth cannot be excluded from love, because Love is Truth and Truth is Love. Jesus told the Pharisaical Leaders they needed to learn what it meant to have mercy but not sacrifice.

There is no place for pride in a heart filled with love for God and or others.

Love and humility go hand in hand. The true Love of God cannot be shown through us, if we first have not humbled ourselves before God, and second, before each other. The gospel message is one of God’s great care for us, and the extent to which He goes to reconcile us to Him.

Strive for that which lasts. God’s Love is the fulfillment of all spiritual gifts. The gifts are not an end in themselves, but are avenues by which to express the message/love of God. God steadily reveals who He is to those who are looking for Him, even if they are seeing Him through a smoked glass. There will come a time, though that the smoke will begin to dissipate from the glass, and God will be seen more clearly.

Remember: Love is the fulfillment of faith and hope!