At the end of his discussion of spiritual gifts in chapter 12, Paul encouraged the believers at Corinth to "covet earnestly the best gifts".The "best gifts" refer to those most beneficial to the whole body of Christ. All gifts are needed, so all should be exercised in the church. But the other gifts could not compare to the gift of love. No spiritual gift will accomplish much without love underlying its use.
Paul began his description of love by saying it is patient and kind. When love is wronged, it responds with kindness rather than retaliation. Love does not envy or boast, and is not proud. All three of these attitudes were apparently associated with the exercise of spiritual gifts.We can't be envious of the gifts God gives to others, neither can we think our gift is better than someone else's, the gifts belong to God for the maturing of His church. Love is not rude, self seeking, or easily angered, and it does not keep track of wrongs. The fact that the Corinthian Christians were taking each other to court, demonstrated that the people were easily angered and were indeed keeping a record of wrongs, thus not having love one for another as Christ commanded.How can we claim to have love one for another, and claim to love the Lord, and let those he died for travel on a road of destruction,and not tell them. What if God kept track of the wrongs we did. Love does not delight in evil things but rejoices with things that are true. If you love me, tell me when I'm not true to Christ.
Love has preeminence over spiritual gifts,because love nevers fails. God's love is a greater virtue than the spiritual gifts because love is eternal, For God so loved the world, that he wrapped his love in the sinful hatred flesh of mankind, that his love might accept for mankind, the wage paid by sin. While being falsely accused, His love never failed,when they whipped Him ,His love never failed, as they marched Him up calvery,where He suffered bled and died, God's love never failed. .There is no greater thing we can do, than to stand united one with another, and proclaim the love of God to a to a lost world. Jesus Christ, the greatest love of all.
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