1 Corinthians 13:1-3
1 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it;[a] but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
As I meditate on the word I am reminded of Lifespring’s Core Id: Kingdom Family – genuine love for God and genuine care of Others. Lifespring has been blessed with many gifts both spiritual and physical. With reverence for God we have done a good job not to elevate our gifts over the call God has graciously given us as a church, which I believe it to be a Kingdom Family. We understand that no matter how good we may be or how gifted we are, if we don’t genuinely love God and others we are missing the boat.
Paul tells the Corinthians that although they have all these gifts, if they don’t love others the gift would lose its purpose. In 1 Corinthians 12:7 it says “7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.” The gifts that God has given us are not for ourselves but to help each other. May I suggest to you that if you don’t have love for others, you might lack the motivation to use your gifts in the original purpose it was given to us for.
Our gifts have the ability to elevate ourselves or others but I believe that when we genuinely love God and genuinely care for others, the very gifts that God has blessed us with will elevate others. When we posture our hearts to His, He always directs us to others not ourselves.
As we grow in Maturity to walk out Kingdom Family, I challenge myself as well as the Church family to live according to this standard of Love:
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
With the help of the Holy Spirit and Christ that lives in us I pray that we would live according to the standard of love that God’s words prescribes. I pray that we would genuinely love God and genuinely care for others. I pray that we would make it a daily practice and that we would truly be a Kingdom Family, a Spring of Life for those who need it. I pray this all in Jesus’ Name, Amen!