Love! The Greatest Gift of All

1 Corinthians 13:13 "And now abideth faith, hope,charity,these three;but the greatest of these is charity"

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 excercise of spiritual gifts.Saints we can't be envious of the gifts God gives to others, neither can we think our gift is better than someone elses, 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.Saints what if God kept track of the wrongs we did.

Paul continued his description by telling them that love does not delight in evil things but rejoices with things that are true.There was a case of blatant incest, Yet, rather than having grief over the matter, the church was actually "proud" of this sinful situation.Saints the congregations today glories in so many blatant acts which goes against God and his word in an effort not to pass judgment on one another, friendshipping instead of fellowshipping. But 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. If you love me, tell me when I'm not acting Christ like.

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. By his love we are saved,redeemed and have a chance at everlasting life. Of all the eternal values, none is greater than love.No Christian value will have a greater impact for Christ on unbelievers, or be a better encouragement for the believer. Now to love does not mean not being truthful or letting a person know when their behavior is not Christ like, it means caring enough to tell them, even if it means you being hurt.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 gift of all.