1 Corinthians 13:1-3

The importance of love 1 Corinthians 13:1-3: The Corinthian brethren were having problems dealing with spiritual gifts. Paul said the solution to the problem would be that they should pursue love, "the more excellent gift." The church is many members (1 Corinthians 12:12-26) but it is "one body." There were a number of spiritual miraculous gifts given in the early church. But the “more excellent gift” or the "better" gift is love. Without love nothing that a Christian does has any true and lasting value. The gifts of tongues, knowledge, faith or even great personal sacrifice are meaningless without love. Love should be pursued by Christians everywhere.

Love takes precedence over (a) eloquence in speech, (b) prophecy, (c) understanding mysteries, (d) knowledge, (e) faith, (f) giving, and (g) self sacrifice. Without love these things are nothing. In God's word we are taught to love one another. "But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another." (1 Thessalonians 4:9) We are also taught to speak the truth in love. "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." (Ephesians 4:15) God taught us to love by sending his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. "We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19) Love is "the more excellent way." (1 Corinthians 12:31)