CONTENTS.

Introduction.

1. EVERY MINISTRY IS PROFITLESS WITHOUT LOVE.

1.Spiritual gifts fail in their purpose unless they are accompanied by love.

A. We can speak in the most beautiful tongues and yet have an empty soul.

B. We can have the gift of prophecy and yet be "nothing."

c. We can have the gifts of prayer and demonstration and yet be "nothing."

2. We can have a profound spiritual knowledge and yet be nothing.

3. Even the most sacrificial giving is profitless to us unless love is the motive for giving.

4. We can even die a martyr's death, but without love it profits us nothing.


2. THE ATTRIBUTES OF LOVE.

1. Love suffers long, love is patient. "Makrothumeo" occurs in Mt.18v26,29. Lk.18v7. 1Thes.5v14. Heb.6v15. James.5v7,8. 2Pet.3v9.

2. Love is kind.

3. Love is not envious.

4. Love does not vaunt itself, it does not orag or display itself.

5. Love is not puffed up.

6. Love does not behave itself unseemly, unmannerly, unbecomingly, or disgracefully.

7. Love seeketh not her own, is never selfish, does not insist upon its rights.

8. Love is not easily provoked or irritated, it does not fly into a temper.

9. Love thinketh no evil, is not mindful of wrong.

10. Love rejoices not in iniquity, it is not glad when others go wrong.

11. Love rejoices in the truth, and joyfully sides with the truth.

12. Love beareth all things.

13. Love believeth all things, it has no limit to its faith and trust.

14. Love hopeth all things, it is full of hope and never ceases to hope.

15.Love endureth all things it bears everything with triumphant fortitude.


3. THE ETERNAL NATURE OF LOVE AND ITS RELATION TO OUR PRESENT GIFTS AND KNOWLEDGE.

a. Our temporary gifts and knowledge are partial experiences of God's eternal power and purposes.

b. God produces love in us through our present Christian experiences.

c. Our present Christian experience compared with life in God's kingdom of love.

d. The perfect day and kingdom of love for which God is preparing us.

1. When Christ comes we shall be known perfectly and know others perfectly.

2. When God's kingdom comes we shall know God perfectly.

3.Love, faith and hope will abide eternally in the kingdom of God.


INTRODUCTION.

The "More excellent way," or "more surpassing way," that 1Cor.12v31. tells us to walk in, is not the way of love severed from, or separate and distinct from all other gifts, graces, attributes and talents; it is love as the motivating force and guiding principle of all these desirable and lovely things. It is certainly not what some would have us think, love in opposition to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, it is love as the guiding and guarding influence of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The "excellent way" that is spoken of is "a more excellent way" than just desiring the gifts of the Spirit being sought and used out of love for others.

If we desire spiritual gifts out of love for Christ and other people, the gifts will automatically manifest themselves as the need for them arises, if we are living close to God. Let us not desire spiritual gifts just because they are good and remarkable, let us desire them because we love the Lord Jesus and we want to see His will done, and because we love people and want to meet their needs. If we desire spiritual gifts so that we can build up our own denomination, or church, or even our own name, we are desiring spiritual gifts for the very lowest of reasons. Spiritual desire and love should go together, as 1Cor.14v1. tells us quite plainly, "pursue love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts." We see, then, that 1Cor.13. is an exhortation to use spiritual gifts for loving purposes and with loving attitudes. Paul tells us the essential attitudes of mind that are necessary to make the use of spiritual gifts profitable, and the spiritual principles that have to be followed to obtain a revival and keep a revival going on in the will of God. It is love alone that will keep a Pentecostal revival, or keep us from receiving spiritual gifts, or cause us to use God's precious gifts in the wrong way when we receive them.

Paul in his "more excellent way" in 1Cor.13. is a discourse on love in its relation to spiritual gifts. Paul is saying that love should always be the directing force of spiritual gifts. Paul is certainly not saying that we should despise spiritual gifts and prefer love, as some would have us believe.( Many expositors take this chapter right out of its context and speak of love quite separately from spiritual gifts.) The position of this chapter is an embarrassment to many good Christian expositors, on either side of its experience of which they know little or nothing, and it is always difficult to write of an experience that is foreign to you. However, 1Cor.14v1. tells us clearly why Paul wrote this chapter on love, he said "follow after love and desire spiritual gifts." 1Cor.13. is placed with and between the two chapters which speak about the gifts of the Holy Spirit to emphasise the need of love in the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit, and the need that love has for the manifestation of these gifts; for without spiritual power love cannot meet the needs of the Church or the world. Love is very often powerless without the Holy Spirit's gifts and even His gifts can be profitless to us without love. God knew that Satan would attack the power-house of the Church, and He knew that it was on spiritual gifts and love that the Church would fail most, and so through Paul He gives some direction and advice on these great subjects. The oil of love is never needed anywhere more than in the power-house of the Church.

Some may say, "You can seek for gifts, but I am going to seek for love." But this is very foolish, for the Bible commands us to seek after both love and gifts. Those who are seeking love from the God of love will also seek HIS gifts. The fact that a person has spiritual gifts does not mean that they lack love, and the fact that a person lacks spiritual gifts does not mean that they possess love, indeed it may mean the very reverse, for it is possible to follow after love and despise or criticise spiritual gifts. If we really desire and follow after love we shall desire, love and encourage spiritual gifts. These spiritual gifts are the gifts of divine love, and the last thing we should do is to hurt and slander our heavenly Father by disdaining or positively condemning the lovely gifts that He has given. We are not glorifying God by extolling love at the expense of the gifts that He has given.

Paul does not say in 1Cor.13. that the gifts are completely profitless without love, he says that without love they do not profit the person who possesses them or manifests them, they may certainly profit others whose needs are met through them. e.g. a gift of healing or a prophecy. It is not the gifts that are "nothing" without love, for they are given by the God of love and are wonderful, it is the loveless possessor that is "nothing." However, spiritual gifts ministered in love profit both the possessor and the recipients of the gifts. We need to remember that it is not only spiritual gifts that lose their value and profit without love; knowledge of sacred things, gifts to the needy, and even martyrdom are also profitless to us without love. Though spiritual gifts may lose some of their value if they are manifested without love, love is helpless without them. Love needs power to meet the needs of the broken in heart, the sick in body and the oppressed. If we have love and yet do not have the power to meet the needs of suffering humanity we shall be completely crushed and broken-hearted. The gifts of the Holy Spirit have a vital part to play in the ministry of love, for they are one of the main channels of the love of God to a needy Church and world, as the ministry of Christ and His apostles abundantly demonstrates.

The discourse in 1Cor.13. accepts the fact that there are difficulties and dangers connected with the manifestation of spiritual gifts, but this is unavoidable, power always has its dangers. However, nobody in their right senses would say, "Let us do away with electricity, it is very dangerous." We learn to use electricity properly and we should do the same with spiritual gifts. Paul tells us in 1Cor.13. how to use God's power and he tells us the qualities of character that will make the use of spiritual power a blessing. We can desire spiritual gifts because they are so interesting, inspiring, and beautiful, and this is quite proper, however, Paul tells us that the best reason for desiring the Holy Spirits gifts is because we love people and want to see their needs met. If our desire for spiritual gifts springs out of a love for God and people we will not go far wrong, and the lovely gifts our heavenly Father has given will be the blessing that He desires.

There is a wonderful healing power and exceedingly precious fellowship in mature Christian love. When a spiritually sick or oppressed Christian comes into the fellowship of Christians who have had this beautiful love and affection for one another they experience a wonderful healing balm and comfort. There is an absolutely wonderful blessing upon a church where Christians really love one another, but a church where love is lacking and there is strife and division is a very unhappy place. Spiritual gifts manifested with a loving care and thought for others will bring a beautiful fellowship and blessing. Spiritual gifts manifested without this beautiful mutual affection and love will not produce anywhere near the same effect; indeed, with a hard and bitter spirit the effect may even be harmful. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are intended by God to convey the lovely warmth, compassion and concern and the lovely God of love to His children and the world. The gifts of the Spirit are the gifts of the Holy Spirit, they are the manifestations of divine love. The atmosphere of heaven will be one of perfect love, and the atmosphere of a church where God reigns will be one of perfect love, and it will be a veritable fortate of heaven. Nothing that defiles will be allowed to enter and spoil the lovely atmosphere of heaven, love, pure love, perfect love, will be the crowning beauty of the kingdom of God, let us strive to make it the crowning beauty of our churches. Let os make sure that we take heed to the qualities of love that are described in 1Cor.13v4-8., and let us make sure that we regulate the gifts of the Holy Spirit with these loving principles in mind.

The Greek word that is used for love in 1Cor.13. is "agapao," it is the word that the New Testament uses to describe the love of God and Christian love. It is the love that God demands for Himself and our neighbour. Mt.5v43,44. 22v37,39. It is the love of the new commandment that Christ gave. Jn.13v34,35. 15v12. It is the love that the abounding iniquity of the last days will cause to grow cold in the careless Christian's heart. Mt.24v12. This is the love of God that is shed abroad in our hearts after endurance in tribulation. Rom.5v5. It is the love of God which nothing can separate us. Rom.8v39. It is the love that caused God to send His Son to die for the world. Jn.3v16. It is the love that is the fruit of the Spirit. Gal.5v22. "Agape" love is not just intellectual, or an attitude of mind, it is a warm and fervent love, "see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently." 1Pet.1v22. Hos.11v8. Lk.19v41-44. "Agape" love is, then, not only an emotion, it is a standard of life, a warm and righteous attitude of mind, "a deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle, duty and propriety."It is a matter of the heart as well as the decision of a benevolent and loving mind.It is usually distinct from "philia," the love of emotion and friendship, for "philia" speaks of a love that could be fervent and tender and at the same time possibly short-lived and weak, whereas without "agape" only speaks of a constant, unwavering, practical love. A good example of the difference between "agape" and "philia" is found in Jn.21v15-19., the Lord Jesus twice asks Peter if he still lays claim to the constant, unfailing practical "agape" love. Peter can only answer that bitter experience has taught him that his love is only the fervent, tender but weak "philia" love. When the Lord Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him with a "philia" love, it breaks Peter, he said in effect, "You know my heart Lord, and you know how broken it is because my warm but weak "philia" love has failed you. I have professed more than I could perform, but from now on I will perform before I will profess." The Lord Jesus comforts His distraught apostle with the disclosure that his life would end in a magnificent display of "agape" love, Peter would lay down his life for his Saviour and His sheep, Jn.15v13., until that occurs he is to follow Him and feed His sheep and lambs. Oh, the wonderful "agape" love of Jesus for us. He accepts our "philia" love and transforms it by His grace. No one can be a disciple of Christ without having a "philia" love for Him. 1Cor.16v22.

We can see, the, that "agape" love in the New Testament speaks of love and affection on the very highest level, whereas "philia," the love of emotion and friendship, is usually dependent upon circumstances and it is only used to describe the very highest kind of love and affection, e.g. the Love of the Father for His Son. Jn.5v20. The love of Christ for Lazarus. Jn.11v3,36. Christ's love for the beloved apostle John. Jn.20v2. The affection and love that the Father has for His beloved children. Jn.16v27. So we can see that only on occasions "philia" is lifted from the lower levels of secular Greek to the highest levels of divine love. Another striking example of this is seen in Rev.3v19., where Christ says, "as many as I love (phileo), I rebuke and discipline." The love and affection of Christ do not change even when His disciples are unworthy of it and are "wretched and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." The affection and love of Christ are constant to His brethren, as believers we are always dear to Him, even if we may be a grief and disgrace to Him.

"Agape" love is not usually distinct from "philia" love, the love of emotion and friendship, it is quite distinct from "storge," natural affection; and "eros" and "epithumia," illicit sexual lust. "Eros is a passionate love, and in secular Greek it is used almost entirely to describe love between sexes. However, the word had degenerated to describe a lust that was evil. The New Testament nowhere condemns sexual love as unholy or unclean, it says that marriage is honourable and not defiling. Heb.13v4. 1Tim.4v3. The Bible only condemns sexual lust and uncleanness, and this is what the word "eros" had come to mean. In the world today there is an emphasis upon this kind of love, the erotic is made to look the desirable and the good, the lowest love is pictured as the highest, and much advertising and entertainment is aimed at appealing to and stimulating the fleshly passions. Aristotle rightly tells us that this passion is stimulated by the pleasure of the eye, so we need to take care of "eyebath." The lust of the flesh is stimulated by the lust of the eye. There are no decent ideas of love in the word "eros," and this word is used in the New Testament at all, however, the sin that it represents is condemned in many places in the Scriptures, and in the New Testament "epithumia" is used to describe evil "eros" love. How grand it is to come from the evil and murky depths of "eros" love, to the pure and lovely air of "agape" love, the word that describes the lovely love of God and pure Christian love, which is far more beautiful and grand than the best love that the world can conceive and achieve. Now let us go on to consider the first main division of 1Cor.13..


1. EVERY MINISTRY IS PROFITLESS TO US WITHOUT LOVE. 1Cor.13v1-3.

Love is that beautiful virtue that gives value to everything that we do It turns all that it touches into gold. This lovely quality of character makes what we do valuable, precious to God and beneficial to man. Even the excellent actions and the most lovely spiritual gifts lose their power to bless as they should if love does not accompany them, and they can become valueless and profitless to us if we do not manifest the gifts in love. Let us now consider in detail these first three verses.

a. SPIRITUAL GIFTS FAIL IN THEIR PURPOSE UNLESS THEY ARE ACCOMPANIED BY LOVE.

We can speak in the most beautiful tongues and yet have an empty soul.

The Holy Spirit can give us the most lovely languages to speak but if they are not manifested in love we will not impart or receive any blessing. Without love we are "but roaring brass and clashing cymbal." We may have a great flow of language with perfect phonetics and diction, but without love it will be hard and empty and it will chill instead of bless. The tongues of men can be very beautiful to listen to, and the tongues of angels are infinitely more splendid, but without love the most beautiful and exalted of inspired language has a great emptiness and lacks the power to bless. The Holy Spirit breathes into our heart and mind these beautiful and exalted words He lades them with love and grace, but as they go through the human channel they can lose this divine benediction, the human personality can "sieve out" all the beauty, love and tenderness that the Holy Spirit puts into His utterance. The beautiful gift that God has given can be tainted and marred by the nature of the person who manifests the gift and fails to bless as God desires. But how beautiful an utterance in tongues can be when a person passes on all the love, beauty and grace that the Holy Spirit breathes into His message, it can bring the very atmosphere of heaven upon earth.

The word "sounding" is translated "roar" once in the New Testament, and the word for "tinkle" can be translated "clash," "clanking," or "wail," as the word could be translated, "roaring brass or a clashing cymbal." Some, however, would suggest that "tinkling cymbal" should be translated "tinkling bell," suggesting that there is a hint of beauty in the sound. Others think that Paul is referring to the piercing high not of the finger cymbals or castagnets, Whatever this second instrument may have been, the whole impression of this verse is of a hard and harsh noise without any depth or beauty, a nose whose continual repetition is jarring and unpleasant. So the gift of tongues which is given specifically to build up a Christian's character, to strengthen spiritual life and form love, can fail to do these things if we are living unconsecrated and careless lives. Christians who minister their gift of tongues on this low level of unblessed noise are nearly always Christians who speak in tongues in public and fail to use their gift in their private time of devotion; for the Bile makes it quite clear that the place where speaking in tongues should be manifested the most, is the secret place of prayer, and if it is diligently used in private prayer, a Christian cannot help but be blessed openly. 1Cor.14v2,4. Mt.6v5,6. The gift of tongues is primarily for speaking to God in prayer, and the use of this gift in the secret place, with a contrite spirit, will do wonders for our spiritual life and character.

God has given the gift of tongues to His Church because it is absolutely indispensable and necessary. God does not give any gifts that are mean or paltry, they are all priceless, magnificent, good and beautiful, and we should bow the knee to His wisdom, love and authority and we should accept them all, including the gift of tongues. Who are we to criticise the "good and perfect gifts" that our Father has given to us." He is the Lord, let us recognise the value and importance of what He has given. How dare we criticise His gifts, or neglect to seek them, when He has commanded us not only to pursue after love, but earnestly seek spiritual gifts as well? 1Cor.14v1. The proper exercise of the gift of tongues in the life of the believer will enable the Lord to do His will more perfectly in their life, for, as St. Paul tells us, it will build love, faith and spiritual strength in the possesser of the gift. Indeed, it is the one gift whose primary aim is the spiritual well- being of the possesser, and more than any other gift, the gift of tongues will produce spiritual strength, character and the fruits in the Christian believer. For a Christian cannot prophesy, or manifest the other gifts of the Spirit when he desires, and when he does it will nearly always be for the benefit of others, but he can speak in tongues when he desires and be spiritually edified as a result. So we can see that when Paul is speaking of prophecy and the other gifts as being "greater gifts" than the gift of tongues, he is thinking of public meetings of Christians, for Paul makes it quite clear that the greatest gift for the personal edification of the believer in his devotional life, is the gift of tongues. The diligent, devotional and loving use of the gift of tongues in secret will result in the other gifts being manifested in public. 1Cor.14v2,4,18. with 2Cor.12v12. Paul the apostle spoke in tongues more than the verbose and talkative Corinthians, but he did it mainly in private prayer so that he could edify his fellow-Christians in public, this one one of the secrets of Paul's spiritual power. So we can see that the determined and devotional exercise of the gift of tongues can meet the need of the whole personality, it can result in the mind being relieved from stress and the body delivered from sickness, as well as the soul and spirit being renewed and the work of God extended. For God the Holy Spirit comes to bring wholeness and salvation to every part of the personality, and he manifests the gift of tongues through us, the need of the whole personality can be met.

So we can see that the possession of the gift of tongues will not produce a lack of love, it is given by God to produce love. Indeed, a lack of this gift is far more likely to result in a lack of love and spiritual power, for every gift of God and means of grace are essential for spiritual progress and spiritual power. Opposition, scorn, ridicule, or even indifference towards the gift of tongues show that a Christians love and obedience of God's Word is lacking. 1Cor.12v31. 14v1,39. The contrite and devotional use of the gift of tongues will produce a spiritual sweetness and spiritual power that are unattainable without this gift. However, even this gift, which is specifically given for the enrichment of spiritual life and the building of character and love, will not profit us if we are unconsecrated and there is malice and sin in our hearts. However, with love as our guiding principle, we shall use the gift of tongues with real blessing and profit, and it will not only edify ourselves, but the church as well. Any Christian who uses this gift in love will indefinitely richer for its manifestation. All Christians can know the inspiration, joy and blessing of prayer and praise in "other languages," and this, according to 1Cor.13v1., can be in heavenly, as well as earthly languages. The Holy Spirit through these languages causes us to pray or praise according to the will of God. The Holy Spirit can bring our praise, needs and desires to God our Father; He can cause us to give thanks, to worship, to bless, and even to pray for needs that we do not know. It is God directing the prayer life of the believer on the highest level. The whole effect of the gift of tongues when manifested in love is to produce character, love, fruit and blessing.

We can have the gift of prophecy and yet be nothing. Mt.17v20. 21v21. (outhineimi) not a nobody, but nothing absolute zero.

We can have tremendous divine truth given to us by the Holy Spirit, and give that revelation with great power, and yet be nothing. We can have words of wisdom and knowledge carried in the gift of prophecy, that span the centuries, or even milleniums, and yet it may be no good to us, and may fail to produce any Christ-like character in us. The fact that we are channels of such marvellous manifestations does not necessarily mean that we are in good spiritual condition, we can have a heart like Balaam, a heart full of worldly ambition and devoid of love. You can have the words and desires of God revealed to you, but lacking the emotion and love of God they fail to bless as they should. It is not what you say, but the spirit with which you say a truth that counts with God, the same words from a loving heart and a hard heart are quite different in their effect. The manifestation of the gift of prophecy, or any spiritual gift, with a wrong motive or attitude, can produce and increase spiritual pride and arrogance, and even if the spiritual and humble a constant watch has to be kept on the attitude of the heart, for even the apostle Paul found that abundance of spiritual revelation can lead to pride, and we read in 2Cor.12v7-10. that the Lord had to take steps to counteract this.

So we can see that the gift of prophecy which God designed to build up the Church, will fail to produce the full measure of good that God intends if it is not manifested in love, for, as with all the gifts and Christian activities, the channel can taint the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. Notice that Paul does not say that the gift of prophecy is no good and "nothing," he says that the person who manifests the gift without love is no good and "nothing." The manifestation of a prophetic gift in love brings untold blessing. It brings untold blessing to a needy, sad, or downcast Christian, who finds God speaking to them and comforting their sorrowful heart. It can also be used to exhort the Church and even to convict and convert the sinner. 1Cor.14v3,5,24,25. Prophecy builds up the Church and extends the work of God. It must not be confused with preaching or teaching the Word of God, as good and desirable as these ministries are, for Paul clearly distinguishes a prophetic ministry from a preaching ministry in Rom.12v6,7., he plainly tells us that some Christians have a definite ministry of prophecy.

The gift of prophecy is a very blessed manifestation of the Holy Spirit. It can be a channel for words of wisdom and knowledge, it can reveal God's desire to manifest the gifts of power and demonstration, i.e. the gifts of faith, healings and miracles, in addition to its more normal use for edification, exhortation and comfort. No wonder that the apostle Paul directs us to "Make love your quest, and be eager for spiritual gifts, but chiefly for prophecy."

We can have the gift of power and demonstration and yet be "nothing." "Faith to move mountains." 1Cor.13v2.

We read in Acts.2v22. that signs, wonders and miracles can be a sign of the approval of God, but here we read that a faith to trust God for the outstanding or the ultimate in miracles, does not automatically mean that we are pleasing to God, or have a godly character. We can have great healing campaigns, experience great miracles, accomplish great things for God and yet be "nothing." We can perform God's desire to meet the needs of suffering humanity and yet have no real love for them, and though the gifts are manifested may benefit the recipients of the gifts, e.g. a gift of healing for cancer, it profits the channel nothing if the gifts are not manifested in love. However, even if the channel is lacking in love, the gifts of demonstration can be a great blessing, for they do demonstrate the love and affection of God, but where the channel of the gifts is full of the love of God, there is an additional depth, beauty and blessing that is not possible if one is lacking this lovely quality of character. We can see from Mt.7v21-23. that it is possible to backslide and apostacise after a wonderful manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but this does not make the gifts of the Holy Spirit any the less beautiful, it just reveals the perversity, wilfulness and wickedness of the human heart. It is also very wicked to despise the gifts of the Holy Spirit and teach against them. How can one have any real love for God or men and do this? The gifts of the Holy Spirit are essential if the Church is to fulfil the desires of the God of love, let us, therefore, obey the Word of God and "make love our quest, and be eager for spiritual gifts." 1Cor.14v1.

WE CAN HAVE A PROFOUND SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE AND YET BE NOTHING.

A Christian may "understand all sacred and mysterious secrets and possess all knowledge" and yet be "nothing." This is not speaking of a person having a great knowledge of secular things, this Scripture is speaking of a great knowledge of spiritual truths. One of the most intellectual of all created beings was Satan himself, the Bible says that he was, "full of wisdom and perfect in beauty," but the Bible goes on to say that his wisdom was corrupted because of his pride at this beauty, his lack of respect and love for God and his ruthless ambition. Ez.28v12-20. Is.14v12,13. Paul tells us that it is possible to know "all mysteries and all knowledge" and yet be devoid of love, and we can have a full mind and yet have an empty soul. Even the most vital and interesting truth can be dry and barren when it is delivered from an empty soul. Even divine truth coming over the desert of lovelessness loses much of its power to bless. A person may be able to give a perfect discourse on the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit and have little of either. We can have the doctrine of an experience and yet not possess that experience, we can preach on love and have little or no real love. Solomon was wise and had an immense knowledge, but he had not got enough love for God or his people to stop worshipping his wives idols. It is not knowing the truth it is obeying it that counts with God.

Knowledge without love brings pride and arrogance, and a contempt for people of less ability, privilege and gift. Jn.8v3 with Lk.6v20. We have to serve the Lord with humility of mind, warmth of heart and many tears to counteract intellectual arrogance. Acts.20v19. Paul states in 1Cor.8v1. that, "knowledge puffeth up, but love buildeth up." Col.2v18. The majority of the spiritual leaders of Israel were intellectually arrogant, they sneered in contempt, "this people that no not the Law are cursed," Jn.8v3., but the Lord Jesus, who was "The Truth" and knew more real truth than any of these arrogant leaders, said to the people that they despised, "blessed are ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of God," and he chose His apostles from them Lk.6v20. Intellectual arrogance will in the end blind our eyes to the truth and keep us from experiencing the truth. Jn5v44. with 9v39-41.

In saying these things we place no premium upon ignorance, the scriptures rightly state that ignorance is a dangerous and undesirable thing. Heb.5v11-6v12. What a blessing it is to listen to one who has both knowledge of spiritual things and love as well. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart and mind brings forth good things. There is a real power in knowledge and there is a battle for people's minds going on in the world today, for the leaders of the nations know that if you can get a person's mind you have their life and support. The Lord Jesus came into the world to capture the hearts and minds of people and win them over to the truth, the truth that sets men free from the bondage of sin and Satan. How important is the knowledge of the sacred secrets of God! They deliver the soul, they feed the mind and spirit, they establish and sanctify the Christian. This is why the ministry of a teacher is set so high in 1Cor.12v28., but here Paul teaches us that if we have the ministry of a teacher at its very highest level, it does not profit us if we are devoid of love, we are an empty soul and are "nothing." The thoughts that we may utter may be the eternal counsels, purposes and mind of God and of the most tremendous significance and importance, but if we have no love in our heart, then we are "nothing." Even the truth can fail to sanctify us if we hold on to sin and malice in our hearts. Sometimes we can think that because we say or preach a truth that it is part of us, and yet the very opposite can be true. We not only have to preach truth, we have to make sure that it is part of our experience, or we shall be "nothing." A keen intellect is a good thing, and a proper understanding of spiritual truths is most desirable, but we must make quite sure that we have a loving heart as well as an able and well-instructed mind.

EVEN THE MOST SACRIFICIAL GIVING IS PROFITLESS TO US WITHOUT THE LOVE THAT IS THE MOTIVE FOR GIVING.

Sacrificial giving to the extent of giving all that we possess will not profit us unless love is the motive that drives us to do this. We can give away ALL our earthly treasure and yet not lay up any treasure in heaven. One can give out of a sense of duty, or for prestige, or even with a contemptuous and condescending air. The way that God wants us to give and not give is shown in Mt.6v1-4. Mk.12v41-44. Lk.21v1-3. 2Cor.8v1-9v15. Our giving must come out of a love for God and a love for people, we are warned about giving for praise or self-glory in Mt.6v1-4., the unostentious, secret giver will receive an open reward from God. God not only notes what we give, but how we give as well, He also notes what we keep for ourselves after we have given. The widow gave all that she had out of sheer love for God, though she did not know where her next penny was coming from. Her gift was probably the smallest given, but in God's eyes she had given more than all the other gifts put together. The Lord Jesus let this dear little woman give her all, for He saw His Father's provision waiting for this dear woman, "pressed down, shaken together, and running over," perhaps He promptly dispatched a disciple with some money to meet her need. Lk.6v38. Jn.13v29. The little woman gave all that she had and received a great reward in heaven, however, Paul tells us that we can give all that we have like the widow, and yet, unlike her, it may profit us nothing. It is very necessary here to state that widows who are poor should not be expected to contribute a tithe of their income to God, under the law poor widows were to receive from the tithes given to God. Ex.22v22-24. Deut.10v17,18. 14v29. 26v12-15. 27v19. Most of the Christian giving recorded in the New Testament was to meet the needs of the poor Christians. e.g. Acts.2v44,45. 6v1-7. 2Cor.8v1 to 9v15. 1Tim.5v16. How blessed it is to meet the needs of the poor, or a need in the work of God, such giving makes the giver more blessed than the recipient of the gift. However, Paul makes it quite clear that we can make tremendous sacrifices for the work of God and yet have little of real love for God or His people. There is no substitute for loving people; it is not enough to minister to people, or meet their need, we have to have a real love for them. However, it is downright hypocrisy to say that we love people and do not meet their physical need, if it is within our power to do so, love will meet every reasonable need where it possibly can do so. 2Cor.8v9,13v13. Obviously, the great needs of the world today could swallow up all the income of converted Christians, so we need to follow the Bible rule to give preference to the needs of Christians. Christian giving is to meet a person's need, not their wants. Gal.6v2,5,6,9,10. It is necessary not only to give to God's work and needy people, but also to have our giving directed by the Word of God, the Spirit of God and a heart filled with the love of God.

WE CAN EVEN DIE A MARTYR'S DEATH BUT WITHOUT LOVE IT PROFITS US NOTHING.

A person can sacrifice their life out of a sense of self-glory instead of out of love for the Lord Jesus. We are told by the Lord Jesus, Himself a martyr, not to court persecution or death, "when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another." Mt.10v23. The needless sacrifice of our life out of a sense of bravado or pride will bring us no eternal reward or benefit. It is only martyrdom in the will of God and in the path of Christian duty that brings a heavenly reward.

We can see very clearly from 1Cor.13v1-3., that it is not only the gifts of the Holy Spirit that do us no good, or bring us no reward, if they are lacking in love; a profound spiritual knowledge, sacrificial giving, and a martyr's death do not benefit us either if we are loveless. However, this is a point that the critics of the gifts of the Holy Spirit seldom, or never, emphasise. How can one claim to possess love and emphasise love, when they oppose and criticise the gifts of the God of love? If we love God, then we should love His gifts. How will we feel when we meet our heavenly Father if we have been criticising and opposing His gifts during our time on earth? Will the Lord be able to say, Well done, thou good and faithful servant"? If we do not possess love, we will find at the judgement seat of Christ, that all the works that we have done will not count, for "the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is." 1Cor.3v11-17. The only works that will abide the presence of the Lord Jesus are works of faith performed in love. Mal.3v1-3. There is no substitute for loving God and people; love is the quality of character that gives value to all that we do, love makes all that we do precious and valuable to God and man, and beneficial to ourselves.


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