THE MOST EXCELLENT WAY

The Most Excellent Way

“And now I will show you the most excellent way.”
1 Corinthians 12:31b

What is it that Paul says is “the most excellent way?” As we talked last week, we all have spiritual gifts that are used to edify and build up the Body of Christ. We are given these gifts by God, but what good are they if not used in the right way? The right way, or most excellent way, as Paul puts it, is outlined in Chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians. So often when we think of 1 Corinthians 13, we focus on verses 4-8. We almost always hear these verses at weddings and in messages around February 14th. This passage is very applicable to these occasions, but it is really not directed toward the love between a husband and wife. Instead, “love” in this passage, is described in order to help the listener understand the action and attitude we are to take as we exercise our spiritual gifts. Verses 13:1-3 are really convicting. Many times in ministry, I have become aware of people who were using their spiritual gifts, but at the same time, were not showing love to one another in a true Christ- like manner. Is this how God intends us to use the spiritual gifts He gives? The answer should be obvious. “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal (1 Cor. 13:1).” We should be continually aware of how we treat others when using our gifts so that those gifts glorify God, the One who gave them, and demonstrate Christ in us.

Later on in chapter 13 Paul points out that exercising our spiritual gifts without love is childish. My 3 year old daughter, Emmy Lou, is very precious, but she is also very selfish. Selfishness comes naturally to her. Selfishness is action without concern or love for anyone but yourself. Since she is a child, I fully expect her to act this way. As Emmy grows and becomes and adult, I will expect her to put childish ways behind her. Paul puts it this way, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me (1 Cor. 13:11).” As we in the worship ministry serve the Lord through the expressing of our gifts, we should always be mindful of love. I truly feel that we need to, above all, have love for each other as we serve the Lord. If we serve with the kind of love described in 1 Corinthians 13, the Lord will bless us beyond measure.

Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13: 4-8a

Seeking to demonstrate my gifts through the filter of love,
Aaron Hodges