I announced a couple of weeks ago that I was going to start a series on 1 Corinthians 13, a chapter that has been on my mind a lot lately. Last week, I didn’t post because I was having some technical issues. So this week’s post will combine verses 2 and 3 of the “love chapter.” Both of these verses mention that without charity we are nothing and profit nothing. The stress is that what we do must be done with charity, whether it’s obtaining knowledge or giving to the poor.
(Note: If you haven’t read Just a Thought: The True Meaning of Love or A Look at Charity Pt. 1: Speaking with Charity, I highly recommend you check them out.)
I’m going to start out with some notes on each verse, and then I’ll give a general takeaway as well as this week’s challenge.
So, let’s get started!
Verse 2: I Am Nothing
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. – 1 Corinthians 13:2
Many people boast about being knowledgeable. Even Paul was considered a well-learned man. But Paul was still lost. He still lacked Christ-like love, didn’t even fully understand it. (For more on Paul, check out my post Just Read: What We Can Learn from Paul.) Our knowledge without the love of Christ is incomplete. Our knowledge of every prophecy in the Bible is incomplete without Christ, without His love.
It’s not enough to have knowledge of God’s promises, to know the Bible inside and out, or to have great faith in Him. It’s how you apply it that matters. James 2:14-17 states that faith without works is dead, and we show our faith through works. We can claim to have faith, to trust in God. But our faith is shown through our actions.
It’s not bad to be knowledgeable. We should study the Bible as often as possible to know what it says and how to apply it. What we learn in history, mathematics, and even science can help us better understand the Bible, as long as it doesn’t contradict God’s Word. Some people think they’re knowledgeable, but they’re filled with false doctrine and a perversion of the truth. This “knowledge” does them no good.
Verse 3: It Profiteth Me Nothing
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. – 1 Corinthians 13:3
Sacrifices are useless without love. A lot of people sacrifice something just to get recognition. Some people even pretend to sacrifice for the attention. No one likes a person who plays the martyr, right? Stephen, the martyr we read about in Acts, loved the Lord. He preached about Jesus even though he surely knew the danger. His martyrdom still resonates with Christians because he literally gave his life to serve Jesus.
Jesus addressed sacrificing for attention. In Matthew 6:16, Jesus said to His disciples, “Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.” Jesus actually told the disciples to fast in secret (v. 18) so others would not know. This would separate them from the religious leaders who wanted everyone to see them fasting. Who wanted people to walk by and say, “Wow, they must be really devout because they’re fasting.” This takes away from the sacrifice. If it doesn’t come from love, it means nothing.
Think about Christ’s sacrifice. God didn’t send His Son so He could lord it over our heads forever. God sent His Son because He loves us (John 3:16). Christ died on the cross because He loves us. That’s what makes Christ’s sacrifice so meaningful.
Takeaway
What sticks out to me about both verses is the motivation. Too many people just want to be noticed. To be applauded. To be praised and recognized. But if we don’t do it out of love, then what’s the point? Doing good deeds just for the sake of doing good deeds will cause our efforts to fall short. We won’t put our all into it.
We should also keep in mind that God is not a respecter of persons (Romans 2:11). It doesn’t matter how many college degrees we have, how many initials come after our name, how many accolades we receive. Without Christ, it means nothing.
This week’s challenge: Check your motives. Gaining knowledge is useless unless we apply it. Performing good deeds for praise will cheapen it. Everything we do should be out of love. It should all point back to Christ.
If you have anything you want to add or just a general comment, let me know below. Or connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. I’d love to know your thoughts, and if you’re working on the challenge, I would love to know how it’s going.
