Читать книгу Boyd's Commentary - R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation - Страница 71

People in general understand the need for love, but rarely do you find many living their lives according to it. Before we recognize our call to preach, the gift to teach, the passion to serve, or even the desire to worship, God asks us, “Do you love Me?” The love we have for God is what connects us to God and enables us to be used by God. Sometimes this fundamental idea gets lost in the prestige of spiritual gifts.

God endows us with spiritual gifts not to inflate the ego but to empower us to create an environment where love can be nurtured, grown, and developed in the heart of every believer. God’s will for us is that we reflect the light of His glory and love in the world. The way we do this is through the use of our spiritual gifts. However, without love, our spiritual gifts are rendered of no effect. Which means, it’s not about what kind of gifts we get or who is more gifted. Instead, it’s a question of love and our commitment to live the more excellent way.

Paul used this phrase to encourage the Christians living in Corinth to choose love as the more excellent way. After receiving prior correspondence from them and learning about disagreements and divisions that had arisen over spiritual gifts among the people in the community, Paul wrote back. He encouraged believers to live and serve God based on the conviction of love rather than any other gift. Love is the only sure thing to last.