At the end of chapter 12, Paul mildly rebuked the saints at Corinth for desiring gifts that would promote self-exaltation rather than the higher gifts that were best for the saints, and gifts that did the most good.  Now, as we head into chapter 13, we find Paul emphasizing that there is something better than spiritual gifts, regardless of which ones are under consideration.  There is, as Paul wrote, “a more excellent way.”  That way is the way of love.

Paul makes it clear that, unlike spiritual gifts, love is a prerequisite to salvation.  Without love, being right with God is impossible because God, being the essence of love (1 John 4:8), demands it.

1 Corinthians 13:1 (ESV)
¹  If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

The reference to  “tongues of men” refers to the gift of tongues, verifying that speaking in tongues is simply referring to an unlearned language.  Paul is using hyperbole to denote the highest degree of tongue speaking ability among those created by God.  The point is this—although one may speak in the highest language; though he is gifted with the greatest kind of speech on earth, and even in heaven, without love, it is as a noisy gong (sounding brass) or a clanging cymbal.  In other words, regardless of what is said, it is nothing but noise.  Paul might be referring here to the way that heathens worshipped their false gods.  They would use sounding brass when worshipping their gods.  What did it profit them?  Nothing!  Such is the case when a person speaks without love, no matter how eloquently he speaks.  But this is not all.  Paul continues.

1 Corinthians 13:2 (ESV)
²  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.

Not only is speaking in tongues useless, if one does not have love, so are the gifts of prophecy and knowledge.  Paul is not running down any of these gifts.  They are useful and powerful when used correctly; and, in the first century, when the Word of God was not yet completely attainable in written form, these gifts were essential.  However, when exercised without love, they did not help those who possessed them.  Can you imagine having enough faith that you could cause a mountain to move?  Paul tells us that even if we could accomplish such a feat due to an enormously strong faith, we would be nothing without love.  That certainly puts the significance of love into perspective.  But again, there is more.

1 Corinthians 13:3 (ESV)
³  If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

No words could accentuate the importance of love more than these.  Even our actions, regardless of how high and noble they are within themselves, are meaningless if they are not motivated by love.  They might appear to demonstrate great charity.  They might involve great personal sacrifice.  However, if our actions are not driven by love, we gain nothing from God.  Without love, we simply cannot serve the Lord properly.  We cannot take one step closer to heaven without love because the way to heaven is the way of love (John 3:16).  Love is at the center of the Christian’s life.  What gasoline is to a car, love is to our Christianity—it allows it to operate properly.  Without gasoline, I do not care how beautiful a car is or how many amenities it may possess, it is, for all practical purposes, useless.  Such is the life of the child of  God without love.

Never underestimate the importance of love.  It is not going to get you to heaven all by itself, but without it, obtaining a home there will be impossible.  How do we know if we love the way we should?  Next, Paul is going to show us.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things