Love – greater than spectacular miracles
Series: Holy – Holy – Holy | Bible text: 1 Corinthians 16:14
The motto for 2024 was originally said to the Church of Corinth: «Everything you do should be done in love» (1 Corinthians 16:14 NLB). In the context of the circumstances of the time, these words take on great poignancy. The much greater miracle than spectacular spiritual gifts is love. Spiritual gifts do not necessarily grow on the soil of the gospel, but love does. Without love, faith suffocates – it is the breathing air of faith.
The motto for 2024 seems succinct: «Everything you do should be done in love» (1 Corinthians 16:14 NLB). «That’s clear!», most people will agree. We also like to say to the arguing children: «Be kind to each other!» A sentence like that is easy to say. Everything you do should be done in love, not by covering all conflicts with the cloak of love. And «That’s clear!» does not mean: «You got it!» There are worlds in between. Paul writes this challenging sentence at the end of 1 Corinthians. It is preceded by 15 chapters, including the world-famous Song of Songs.
The story
Corinth is a city on a 7 km wide isthmus in the centre of Greece. The upper provinces are connected to the lower provinces by this isthmus. Corinth was a trading centre and the ideal place to earn money. Corinth was also a transit point for seafarers. Anyone travelling by ship from east to west could load their goods onto another ship in Corinth after a short land transport and continue their journey. Alternatively, they had to travel hundreds of kilometres around the southern end of Greece. Anyone trading in goods could not avoid Corinth.
Because Corinth had rebelled against the Roman Empire, the city was destroyed by the Romans in 146 BC and razed to the ground. Nobody lived here for the next 100 years. Then Julius Caesar placed a Roman garrison in Corinth and decided to found a Roman colony. Another 100 years passed before Paul wrote his letter to the Corinthians. During this time, Corinth exploded from nothingness into one of the largest cities in the world at the time. What was unique was that there was no original population and therefore no aristocracy or tradition. The people who came to Corinth wanted to be successful and make money. Above Corinth there was a mountain on which the temple of Aphrodite stood. Every night, 1000 prostitutes came down to the city to offer themselves. The city was densely populated, diverse, multi-ethnic, success-orientated and sex-obsessed. At that time, the verb Corinthise. It means living in complete moral depravity without adhering to rules.
Corinth is therefore the last place where we think people will turn to God. But God promised Paul that he would plant a church here of all places (Acts 18:9). This church was unique for Paul because it was a sign for him that the gospel really can change everyone. He makes a list of the people who were here: «[…] people who engage in fornication, idolaters, adulterers, prostitutes, homosexuals, thieves, covetous, drunkards, blasphemers, robbers […] Formerly this was true of some of you, but now your sins have been washed away and you have been set apart for God. You have been justified before God by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God» (1 Corinthians 6:9–11 NLB).
These people did not have a good middle-class background. They did everything that God forbids. But at the same time, it was the most gifted church of all. These Christians were able to make a difference, had great eloquence and insight, performed great miracles and were powerful visionaries. The Corinthians were the most brilliant and at the same time the most challenging church.
The bomb
It is precisely into this genius that Paul detonates a bomb: «If I could speak in the tongues of the world or with the tongues of angels but had no love, my speech would be nothing but meaningless noise like a booming gong or a tinkling bell. If I had the gift of prophecy and knew all mysteries and had all knowledge, and if I had a faith that could move mountains but had no love, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I possessed to the poor and even sacrificed my body so that I might be honoured, but had no love, everything would be worthless» (1 Corinthians 13:1–3 NLB).
We can have a lot of general and even miraculous gifts and at the same time have no love. And that means that someone is not even just spiritually immature, but spiritually non-existent. Everything we do without love is noise to God. It is possible to do the same miracles as Jesus without having experienced the saving grace of God in our hearts. It is not the spiritual gifts that are the problem, but the lack of love. Paul mentions a few sentences later that he speaks in tongues more than the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 14:18).
Don’t we all dream of being in a church where signs, wonders and healings happen? Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be a member of the church in Corinth? Paul diametrically opposes such thinking. The Holy Spirit can use gifts in people who have never given their heart to the Lord. Authority in the name of Jesus Christ alone is not a sign of genuine discipleship to Jesus. Outward spiritual success is not proof that a person has been born again and has the right to call himself a child of God.
Incidentally, Jesus already held the same opinion. He said to people who had prophesied, cast out demons and performed miracles in His name: «I never knew you. Away with you. You do not live according to God’s commandment» (Matthew 7:23 NLB). This is a frontal attack on the common belief that only Christians can perform miracles. Many think that when secular people perform miracles, they are caused by Satan. No, The Holy Spirit can bring about general and, in particular, miraculous gifts through a person without saving grace necessarily having to be in their heart..
Gifts, including spiritual gifts, are not necessarily based on the gospel and the grace of God. But spiritual fruit needs this soil. Love belongs to the so-called fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22f), which is why it is more miraculous than a miracle. The distinguishing feature of true Christian life is love. Jesus says: «So now I give you a new commandment: love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. Your love for one another will show the world that you are my disciples» (John 13:34f NLB). Without love, faith suffocates – it is the breathing air of faith.
The love
«Everything you do should be done in love» (1 Corinthians 16:14 NLB). What could this mean for us?
The church in Corinth was more brilliant, but also more worrying for Paul than any other. The Song of Songs addresses the problem areas in Corinth: «Love is patient and kind. It is not envious or arrogant, proud or offensive. Love is not selfish. It does not allow itself to be provoked, and if it is wronged, it does not bear a grudge. It never rejoices in injustice, but always rejoices in the truth. Love endures everything, never loses faith, always preserves hope and perseveres no matter what happens. Love will never cease […]» (1 Corinthians 13:4–8 NLB). Love overcomes and replaces all moral and character failures. This is probably why St Peter’s letter says that love covers many sins (1 Peter 4:8). In our world, it is normal for people with differences of opinion to avoid each other. It should be different in the church. «I pray for them all to be one, just as you and I are one, Father – that they may be one in us, just as you are in me and I am in you, and the world may believe that you have sent me» (John 17:21 NLB). Only love can overcome our differences. And our cooperation should serve as proof that God is at work.
Some of us think that we are not gifted and cannot articulate ourselves well. Maybe you’re frustrated because you’re not being selected and asked to do this or that. If this applies to you, you must realise that gifts are not a suitable yardstick for measuring the quality of being a Christian. Gifts are limited, there are always people who are even more gifted. But the grace in your heart has unlimited potential. Not everyone in this room can be a good speaker. But as a follower of Jesus, with his saving grace in your heart, you can become the most loving, humble and gracious person. And this is exactly what will change the world. Therefore: focus on love and not on gifts.
Others of us are gifted team leaders, speaking in front of people, shepherding a small group or leading a Bible study. You can do all of these things and yet nothing be. The danger of being gifted for Christ lies in defining one’s Christianity and identity through success. My appointment as pastor of seetal chile 17 years ago was quite controversial. I remember exactly how an older, respected person in the congregation stood up for me with the following words: «He has worked successfully for the youth movement JMS. It can’t be completely wrong.» When I am sometimes questioned today, I find myself thinking or saying: «I believe God is with me. Look at my success. Look at the people I have helped. Look at my talent.» I can be cold in my heart towards God, full of self-pity, perhaps bitter and angry towards people, filled with self-centredness, and still preach a powerful sermon. That is a great danger. If we think that our giftedness, our success in the church is an indicator of what is really happening in the heart, we are wrong. It is so easy as a Christian leader or worker to take identity out of ministry instead of Jesus. God says: «I love you, not because of your activity, but because of my grace.» That is the bright sound of the gospel!
The secret of love is that Christ loved us first (1 John 4:19). It was not his power or his holiness, but his love that brought Jesus to earth. The core of being a Christian is not power, but love, not gifts, but grace. When Jesus hung on the cross, He lost His Father’s love because of His love for us. «My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?» (Matthew 27:46 NLB). How bad must it be when your most important carer leaves you? If we look at the love that sent Him to us and the love that He lost out of love for us, we will give Him our hearts. The more we see the love He showed, the more we will see love grow in our lives. This saves us from being just a droning gong or a ringing bell.
Possible questions for the small group
Read the Bible text: 1 Corinthians 16:14; 1 Corinthians 13
- Compare the church in Corinth with the seetal chile. What are the differences? Would you like to see more Corinthian would have with us? What would be the consequences?
- Do you agree that someone can perform miracles – even spectacular healing miracles – without the grace of God in their heart?
- What are your natural or spiritual gifts? How and when do you exercise them?
- «Everything you do should be done in love.» Are there specific situations or people you want to live by in the new year?
- How can you promote the growth of love in your heart?
