1 Corinthians 13, Called to Love

Theological Proposition/Focus: The key identifier of a legitimate covenant community is the presence of love.

Homiletical Proposition/Application: Since love is the visible sign that legitimizes our covenant community the Christ follower must ensure that love is central in all their actions.

Introduction:

Image: KFC's secret Ingredient.

I personally like KFC, I know that not everyone does, but I like it. What is it that makes KFC so good? The KFC secret recipe is famously known as Colonel Harland Sanders' "11 herbs and spices." While the exact formula has been a closely guarded secret for many years, a supposed copy of the recipe was discovered in 2016. While this recipe has been widely circulated and tested, KFC has neither confirmed nor denied its authenticity. The company's official stance remains that the original recipe is a trade secret, kept secure in a vault at the KFC headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky.

Unlike KFC, the secret ingredient for the church is no secret. We know what makes the church special, love and without love everything else is just a waste of time.

Setting the Stage:

Paul concludes 1 Corinthians 12 with verse 31b.

"And yet I will show you the most excellent way."

Body

Love is the secret sauce that makes everything else worth tasting (1-3).

Without love, speech is worse than meaningless, it is annoying (1).

Let me start by explaining the word tongues in verse one. The greek word that we translate as tongues is the word γλώσσαις. The word can refer to the speech organ which we know of as the tongue, it can also be used of a systematic body of words which we know of as a language. Finally, there is evidence that some of the Hellenistic cults referred to ecstatic utterances in their religion as tongues. We are going to dig more into the notion of tongues in a later sermon but for now here is what I want to point out to you. No matter what tongues refers to, tongues without love are like a resounding gong or symbol!

Let's dig in just a little. Greek society highly valued eloquence and the first century Corinthians were no exception. In fact, Paul had been criticized for being a good writer but a poor speaker in 2 Cor. 10:10. Culture was fascinated with good speaking and to those who spoke with authority were greatly honored. In fact, it has been suggested that the phrase "tongues of men or of angels" is a hyperbolic reference to individuals whose speech is so eloquent it is surely Heavenly. However, given the emphasis here seems to be on grace gifts it seems more likely this is tongues in the sense of foreign languages or even ecstatic utterances. In this case I think Paul is saying even if your utterances are so beautiful you think they are heavenly without love the utterance is clashing, annoying.

Without love, even profoundly helpful gifts help nobody (2).

Later Paul is going to talk about how different gifts help the church. Some of the most helpful gifts for the edification of the church are the gifts of public communication and instruction of God's Word. Theologians have spent a lot of time breaking down each of the words prophecy, mysteries, and knowledge. I am not going to get into all the details because I don't think that is the point of the passage. I think the point of the passage is something like this. Even if you can get in front of people and clearly teach the will of God. Even if you understand theological details that everyone else struggles with. Even if you have the sort of faith that rallies people to a cause and motivates them to move forward with God's plan, if you don't have love you are nothing.

Think about this. There are some incredibly smart people who know far more theology than I. There are people who have such a profound faith in God that you cannot help but get excited for the vision they cast. There are people who do and teach some amazing truths but without love they are nothing.

Without love, selflessness is empty of meaning (3).

Self-sacrifice for the good of others is a well-known noble act. In fact, other cultures hold this to be noble. The Romans held self-sacrifice for others to be a noble act and in Mark 10:21 Jesus told the rich man to sell all he had and give it to the poor. Self-sacrifice is noble, but, Paul argues self-sacrifice without love is meaningless. Paul even goes further, even if you give your life in the most horrific way without love it is of no gain.

The Corinthians had a problem with factionalism and a desire to prove they had some high spiritual status. Paul is arguing that status before God requires love.

Image: Caffein Free, what's the point.

I have to admit, I am not a caffein person. I love coffee and soda but I always choose caffein free. I just don't like the way Caffein makes me feel. But I know that for many of you when you hear the word caffein-free you say, what the point.

Love is so much more than a mere emotion (4-7).

Image: Name brand and knock off products.

There are things that I don't mind buying the off-label product. When we were in China we enjoyed going to the market and negotiating on items. I remember buying a Nike hat for less than $3 because the swoosh was just a little off center. I was happy to have the hat, it didn't cost me much, and no-one has ever noticed. There are other things where the story is different. I once bought a can of off-label Pringles. They were disgusting. I am sure if you have never had a real Pringle then it tasted fine but these were gross.

Don't settle for off-label love!