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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
The Blessings of Faith, Hope and Love
Focus Text: 1 Corinthians 13.1-13
The three previous installments of Today’s Little Lift have treated the following topics: The Blessings of Faith, The Blessings of Hope, and the Blessings of Love. Today’s installment will be short and to the point. It is A Short Treatise on the Blessings of Faith, Hope, and Love.
For the first time in the history of this column, a guest writer’s words will comprise the majority (and the balance) of this [today’s] message. I do this because there simply is no way that I can, regardless of the amount of study and prayer that I put into, come near to doing the job that this author has done. Even though his work was completed long, long ago, his words are as fresh as today’s newspaper and contain more wisdom than the words of ten thousand modern authors. I invite your careful attention to his marvelous treatment of this subject.
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.
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
These words, of course are the inspired words of the apostle Paul as recorded in 1 Corinthians 13.1-13. Let all of Gods people say, "Amen and Amen!"
Questions:
1. What profit are charitable deeds accomplished due to motives apart from love?
2. What profit are religious acts of worship or service due to motives apart from love?
3. In what specific thing did Paul say that love rejoices? Would this mean that love does not rejoice where truth is not present and/or practiced?
4. Of faith, hope, and love, which does Paul say is the greatest? Why do you think he elevated it above the other two characteristics named?
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