BUT THE GREATEST IS LOVE

But the Greatest is Love

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, 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. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 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 the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. I Corinthians 13:1-13

I love one particular scene in the movie, “Crocodile Dundee.” A folk hero from the outback country of Australia, Crocodile Dundee visits New York City for the first time. While accompanied by a female newspaper writer, he finds himself cornered by a gang of young thugs. When Dundee does not immediately hand over his wallet, one young hoodlum pulls out a switchblade and threatens him. With absolutely no sign of being intimidated, Dundee says, “Now that’s not a knife,” and coolly reaches behind his back and pulls out the largest knife I have ever seen and says, “This is a knife!” Quickly disarmed, the hoodlums run away.

As I read the thirteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians, I see Paul somewhat like Crocodile Dundee. His words seem to say, “Now that’s not love … this is love!” I find it difficult, if not impossible, to believe the Corinthians deliberately chose to abandon Christian love. I believe they were all so caught up in acquiring the upfront “spotlight” spiritual gifts that they had unconsciously abandoned true love. Perhaps, they were something like Samson after Delilah cut his hair. At the moment of ambush Samson leapt to his feet, fully expecting to be able to overpower the Philistines, not knowing that God’s power had departed (see Judges 16:18-21). The Corinthian church, like the church at Ephesus, had lost its love (Revelation 2:1-7), and perhaps without knowing so.

I thank the Lord everyday that when I look at FBC Canton I see a church that is fully engaged in loving each other and loving the world. Are we a perfect church? No, not at all! But we are a church that is striving to show our love in the way God has asked us to in I Corinthians 13. There is always room for improvement. As we consistently show genuine love, it will spread and we will begin to see God do amazing things in our church, our city, our state, our country, and our world!

Aaron Hodges

A REMINDER ABOUT UNITY

A Reminder about Unity

The other night I was having a conversation with a friend and we were both heartbroken by some of the issues that the Church today wrestles with. As we were talking, it dawned on us that we should not be surprised. Instead, we realized that the Church has been dealing with these same issues since its inception. One of the biggest problems in the Church today is disunity. The Bible is very clear to say disunity is a sin. The church in Corinth dealt with it and the church in America deals with it as well. The main issue in Corinth was that people were claiming allegiance to different leaders. The issues that plague the Church in our day are the same but we have added many more things to be divided over. Any way you look at it, disunity is still a sin.

What is the main reason for the Church’s existence? Is it for everyone to push and shove to get their own way? No, our purpose is the proclamation of the Gospel. The Corinthian believers had lost their focus on the main thing and so have we. I could expound on this; but instead, I will let Scripture speak for itself:

10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Are we doing things day-to-day that encourage unity or are we a cause of disunity? May we keep our focus on the main thing and see what God will do with our obedience.

Looking forward to all the great things God will do with our unity,
Aaron Hodges