Friday's Follow-up Verses
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
1 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 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. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 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. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 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. 12 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.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Footnotes
[a] 1 Corinthians 13:1 Or languages
[b] 1 Corinthians 13:3 Some manuscripts body to the flames
Pondering Point
As we consider being faithful managers of what God gives us in life, it is not just about proper use of His gifts. It is also (maybe more so) about how and why we give and serve. Motivation and attitude are paramount to honoring God regardless of how much we give or serve. Service without love is hardly God’s aim for us. Jesus is found quoting from Old Testament prophet Isaiah when He says (Matthew 15:7b-9),
Matthew 15:7b-9
You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:
“These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.” (Is. 29:13)
If you don’t have a loving attitude behind your actions, whatever sacrifices you make ring hollow with God. People may be impressed and even shower you with accolades for your ‘greatness,’ but God knows better – and so should you. If satisfying people is the bar you’re shooting for, you’re worshipping a false god and offending the true God. Let’s honor God with our lips and our hearts!
Prayer
Father God You have given me gifts and resources, relationships and opportunities with which to share Your love and Your son Jesus. Inspire me by Your love so that all I do is moved by love for You and for my neighbor. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Micro-Group (MG) Moment
Considering our Wealth and Financial Resources in light of our life as a disciple of Jesus
Sharing the Wealth, Chapter 24:
What is our role in discipling others? Discipling is the process of allowing God to use us to be a part of helping another disciple to grow. A sign of our maturity is the desire to pass on the "wealth" to the next generation.
p. 214 of Discipleship Essentials by Greg Ogden.
Money, Chapter 25:
What attitude and practice should disciples have regarding money? Disciples live with a healthy fear of the money god (mammon), knowing that it has the power to command devotion. A way to put limits on our greed and to laugh in the face of mammon is to begin our practice of giving with a minimum of a tithe of our resources to the Lord's work.
p. 221 of Discipleship Essentials by Greg Ogden.
Prayer
Father God, I pray that it becomes my desire to honor You with my wealth of finances and time and my wealth of relationships and energy. I pray also that this godly desire is met with godly strength to carry it out to Your glory day in and day out. Forgive me when I slip and restore me to godly living once again. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.