“Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.” – 1 Corinthians 12:31
I have been involved in more spiritual discussions in my lifetime than I would care to count. Most of those discussions are about the nature of God or the nature of church. A great deal less of those discussions deal with my own nature or the nature of the person I am talking to.
But most of these discussions are about things that are irrelevant to the Kingdom of God…to be honest.
Some of the “spiritual” discussions that I have had since deciding to start Four Hills Church have included:
- the appropriate day to have an Easter Egg Hunt
- the amount of practice necessary to have an excellent worship team
- the dress code of a pastor on Sunday morning
- the exercise of worship such as lifting hands or speaking in tongues
I have had many more discussions, but these give you an idea. Each discussion is usually filled with scripture (seriously) and passionately debated on both sides. I am sure these things are vitally important to the health and well-being of our church, but…
Paul reveals in 1 Corinthians that such discussions have always been a part of church life. Throughout the entire letter, he deals with matters about how to “do church”. He speaks to church troublemakers, the best way to operate spiritual gifts, and even how to approach concerns about marriage and relationships.
Then, almost out of nowhere, he offers the chance to learn “the most excellent way”.
Chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians speaks of the demise of spiritual gifts. It talks of placing high importance on things that matter little to God. And it points out that there is ONE thing that God truly values…ONE thing that never fails…
Love.
As cheesy and mushy as it may sound, Paul speaks of love as if it the essence of pure worship. His discussion of love is one that leaves it as the lone non-negotiable in the Christian walk. It becomes such a one-tracked thought that the reader begins to realize that everything else has all been about this.
Remember with me:
- Salvation – “For God so loved the world…“
- Relationship – “Greater love has no one than this…“
- Knowing God – “He that loves not knows not God, for God is love.”
- Obedience – “A new command I give to you, love one another.“
Are you starting to get the picture? I could go on and on (maybe I will), but every single doctrine, teaching, rebuke, or lesson of value in the Bible (and they are all valuable) begins and ends with LOVE. Could this be the reason Paul referred to love as “the most excellent way“?
If I speak with the tongues of men and angels…If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries…If I have a faith that can move mountains…but do not have love…
I am nothing.
We will be spending the next few months learning to love like He loves. It is, apparently, the most important lesson we could learn. It is the most excellent way.
Lord, teach us to love.
