We all have our favorite preachers and teachers, right? Some men we hear preach we listen in awe of their anointing and the ability God has blessed them with. They seem speak in both the tongues of men and angels.

But the Bible says of these men, “if they have not love, they are only a noisy annoyance.” Well, it doesn’t say it quite like that, it says, “they are a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal”.

So, priority one is to love.

There are some people we marvel at their knowledge of Scripture; their ability to discern and speak prophetically in many circumstances. They have faith that seems so deep that we are convinced they could move mountains – they are blessing to everyone and we hold them in very high regard.

But the Bible says of these people, “if they have not love they are nothing”.

So, priority one is to love.

There are those that are so generous, giving, and selfless that they stun the rest of the world. There is no doubt these people would give everything they own away, and even give up their body to death if needed. We may conclude, “they will have huge reward for their selflessness in Heaven.”

But the Bible says of these people, “if they have not love, they gain nothing”.

So, priority one is to love.

All the people described above seem to be doing the most loving things that can be done – and that is true; but the Scripture seems to suggest that these things can be done with wrong motive. These things can be done in pride, instead of humility – they may be doing from a heart that says, “look at me”. But love does not boast, it is not arrogant or seek for its own glory. Love does these things with the humble heart of a loving servant.

Love must be the fuel that powers our service, our ministry, our work, our everything.

If we are to grow in the likeness of Christ, love and humility is our chief need.

Help me Lord!

1Corinthians 13:1-13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.