God is as much concerned with why we do what we do as what we are doing

Throughout 1 Corinthians, Paul give us a detailed description of the church.  When he comes to chapter 13, he reveals the most important aspect about the church and that is the quality of our love.  The prominence of love cannot be overstated.  Jesus told His disciples in John 13:35 that, "Everyone will know by this that you are my disciples - if you have love for one another."  Before the world will hear about our love them, they must see our love demonstrated toward our fellow believers within the church.

 

Paul begins chapter 13 with a reminder to check our motives for our ministry and service as a church.  God is as much concerned with why we do what we do as what we are doing.  We will lose all blessing and benefit of our actions if love is not the foundation.  Then beginning in verse 4, Paul shares with us the character of love.  He reminds us that our love is lived out everyday in the laboratory of life.  Every interaction is an opportunity to love and defining love in verses 4-7 is imperative because there are many warped ideas about what love is.  He reminds us that growing in our understanding of love and living out this quality of love is a sign of our spiritual growth and maturity.  Paul states in verse 11, "what I was a child, I reasoned like a child, I thought like a child, I talked like a child.  But when I became an adult, I set aside childish ways."  One of the marks of a child is his selfishness and unwillingness to share.  So when we live a selfless, sacrificial life and we are willing and even looking for opportunities to share with others, we are assuring ourselves of our progress as we become more like Jesus Christ and love others as Jesus loves us.  Nothing is more vital to the testimony of a church than knowing that this church truly loves.