LOVE OVER ALL 1
AUGUST 24, 2026
TEXT: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. (1 Corinthians 13:1)
Today, we shall examine the concept of love and charity vis-a-vis the exercise of spiritual gifts. Spiritual gifts are undoubtedly good and are, in fact, available for every believer to harness. However, if a believer has all the spiritual gifts in the world but falls short of the pure demonstration of love, he has automatically failed God. Apostle Paul described such people as “clanging cymbals.”
According to Apostle Paul, even if we speak in tongues like celestial beings, show great insight, understand mysteries, prophesy, or demonstrate an incredible level of faith, so far as the spirit of love is lacking, we are more or less like empty barrels.
The Apostle Paul then went on to highlight certain traits of love.
TRAITS OF LOVE
- Love is kind: As a believer, kindness must not be scarce in our daily lives. Show kindness to those around you in church, the office, and the environment generally. Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 4:32, urged believers to be kind and tenderhearted towards others.
- Love is not envious: An envious person is not far from total witchcraft. Do you find yourself getting bitter and engaging in strange self-pity when your friend hits a breakthrough? Check yourself! There’s no love in you, and you are gradually tilting towards witchcraft/wizardry without a coven. Apostle Paul, in his epistle to the Romans, urged Christians to rejoice with those who have cause to rejoice (Romans 12:15). Genuine love does not see the success or happiness of another person as a threat to his own advancement.
- Love does not seek its own: This means that if we have love, we must be altruistic, i.e., selfless. Do not think of yourself alone all the time. How about those around you? Apostle Paul, while teaching on the concept of Christian humility, urged believers to see others as being better than themselves (Philippians 2:3-4).
- Love is not easily provoked: As a believer, you can’t claim to have love with a choleric lifestyle. You must try to demonstrate reasonable control over your temperament.
- Love bears all things: This simply means that love endures a lot. Love demonstrates long-suffering. Apostle Paul, in his epistle to the Ephesians, urged believers to love one another in long-suffering, forbearance, and meekness (Ephesians 4:2).
Love is so fundamental to God. Apostle Paul stated in his epistle to the Romans that “love is the fulfilment of the law.” A person may be an extraordinary speaker, teacher, evangelist, prophet, communicator, administrator, prayer warrior, pastor, or apostle, but if he/she does not possess love, he is not different from a noise maker (1 Corinthians 13:2).
To be clear, Apostle Paul was not castigating the exercise of those spiritual values. Faith is good. Knowledge and insight are wonderful. Tongues and prophecy are great. However, purely exercising all these without love is a clear waste of time. According to St. John, anyone who claims to love God but hates a brother or sister is contradicting his own confession (1 John 4:20-21).
SEARCHLIGHT: Focus on love for your neighbours and those around you and not on the vain exercise of spiritual gifts. It is highly unlikely that spiritual gifts will travel far without a reasonable demonstration of love.
PRAYER: O LORD, let the fire of genuine love burn in my heart, in Jesus’ Mighty Name.
BIBLE READING: Psalm 112-114, Matthew 10
PASTOR MICHAEL OMOLE
