Have Not Love 


“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”

I Corinthians 13:1-3 NKJV

The famous love chapter. I’ve heard it quoted at both Christian and non-Christian weddings. I dare say it is one of the most quoted chapters in the entire Bible. Love is patient and kind, it does not envy or boast, it is not rude … and so on. We know love is the greatest gift and both the first and the second greatest commandment. 

But what happens when love is void? It’s disruptive (clanging cymbals) and costly (profits me nothing). 

When I have not love, I have nothing. When I do not act in love, I am nothing. No matter how many degrees or accolades, no matter the size of someone’s account or how many houses they own, if they do not act in love, they are bankrupt. 

This is a sober reading for me today as the truth of the first 3 verses which I normally skim past wash over me. Those relationships that are struggling? Maybe the love just leaked right out. Those disagreements? They’re disruptive, like clanging cymbals- because love was silenced. Thankfully we have One who has the power to silence storms and raise the dead. 

Perhaps the answer to those broken relationships are found at His feet. As I encounter more of His love, He fills up the bankrupt areas of my soul, allowing me to freely love another – not because I feel like it, but because He is worth it. I love because He first loved me. If He chose to love, I can too. 

Father – thank You for Your grace and truth. Help me to love like You. You are good and You keep doing good. Your leadership in my life is perfect and You can be trusted. Amen. 

Daily Reading: 1 Corinthians 12-14

December 2, 2022