Slices
Prepare
‘Come down, O Love divine, / Seek thou this soul of mine / and visit it with thine own ardour glowing; / O Comforter draw near.’*
*after Bianco da Siena (died c1434), tr RF
Bible passage
Love is indispensable
And yet I will show you the most excellent way.
13 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. 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, 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 dishonour 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.
Explore
This uplifting passage is quite testing for all Christians and churches. Are you a loving person, or irritable? When people cross you, are you loving, or rude? Can you wait patiently? Do you show kindness? Do you appreciate truth rather than ‘spin’? Do you resent another’s success? At church, are you quietly conceited or do you love others? Are you eager to support others and believe the best about them? Will you persevere to the end for others, as Paul and Jesus did? Verses 4–7 are justly famous. One inner city youth leader, who was greatly used by God, and had known much hardship in his life, found these verses difficult to read. ‘It cuts me up,’ he said.
Love, says Paul, is indispensable. Our achievements may be impressive, but without love we are nothing (vs 1–3). How much better (12:31b) that we apply love when we meet tensions in a church; for example, as in Corinth, over people’s different gifts in a church, or some people’s sensitive consciences. Putting others before self is a much better way.
One day, everything will be made clear, and we shall see things in perspective (vs 8–13). Many things will pass away. Even diamonds are not for ever. But love is.
Respond
How important is kindness to you? How central is it to the gospel? What part should it play in our church worship and day- to- day living?
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 1 Samuel 27,28; 1 Corinthians 1
Pray for Scripture Union
As summer approaches, Ian Kent (Revealing Jesus Pioneer in Durham), will be supporting Faith Guides in planning for holiday clubs, residentials and other special events. Pray that they and their churches might use these opportunities to help children and young people explore, respond and grow in faith.
