LOVE ABOVE GIFTS

LOVE ABOVE GIFTS

By Rev. Samuel Arimoro

Main Text: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Key Verse: “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” — 1 Corinthians 13:13 (KJV)

Supporting Texts: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 1 Corinthians 14:1-12; John 13:34-35; Romans 12:9-10; 1 Peter 4:10-11

Description: Spiritual gifts are precious gifts from God, but they must never become more important than love. First Corinthians 13:1-3 teaches that tongues, prophecy, knowledge, faith, generosity, and sacrifice have no lasting spiritual value when they are separated from genuine love. God's desire is for believers to combine spiritual giftedness with Christlike character.

INTRODUCTION

The Corinthian church was a gifted church. Paul acknowledged that they were “enriched in every thing” and that they came behind in no spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 1:5-7). Yet, despite their abundance of gifts, they struggled with division, pride, competition, selfishness, and disorder. Their situation teaches us that spiritual giftedness does not automatically produce spiritual maturity.

In the midst of his teaching about spiritual gifts, Paul introduces the supremacy of love. First Corinthians 13:1-3 presents a series of powerful contrasts: a person may speak with tongues, possess prophetic insight, understand mysteries, have extraordinary faith, give generously, and make enormous sacrifices, but if love is absent, all these accomplishments are ultimately empty.

Therefore, the Christian must never measure spiritual maturity merely by gifts, manifestations, titles, achievements, or public recognition. Gifts reveal what God can do through a person; love reveals what God is doing in that person. The greatest ministry is not simply to demonstrate spiritual power but to demonstrate the character of Christ.

1. LOVE IS GREATER THAN TONGUES

Spiritual utterance must be governed by love.

a) Tongues Are A Spiritual Gift (1 Corinthians 12:10)
Tongues are among the gifts of the Holy Spirit given to believers.

b) Tongues Without Love Become Empty (1 Corinthians 13:1)
Even supernatural speech becomes meaningless when love is absent.

c) Spiritual Expression Must Edify (1 Corinthians 14:26)
Every public manifestation should strengthen the church.

d) Love Gives Ministry Its Proper Motive (1 Corinthians 16:14)
Everything we do in God's house should be done in love.

Biblical Example: The Corinthian believers were exercising spiritual gifts but were instructed to pursue edification and order in their gatherings (1 Corinthians 14:12, 26-33).

2. LOVE IS GREATER THAN PROPHECY

Prophetic ministry must never become a substitute for Christian character.

a) Prophecy Is Valuable (1 Corinthians 14:3)
Prophecy can strengthen, encourage, and comfort God's people.

b) Spiritual Revelation Is Not Spiritual Maturity (1 Corinthians 13:2)
Knowing mysteries does not automatically make someone Christlike.

c) Gifts Must Be Used For Others (1 Peter 4:10)
God gives gifts so that believers may serve one another.

d) Love Must Govern Prophetic Ministry (1 Corinthians 13:2)
The prophet must never use a gift to dominate, manipulate, or exalt himself.

Biblical Example: Agabus exercised prophetic ministry, but the purpose was to prepare and help the believers (Acts 11:27-28).

3. LOVE IS GREATER THAN KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge is useful, but love determines whether it is used correctly.

a) Knowledge Is A Gift From God (Proverbs 2:6)
God is the ultimate source of wisdom and understanding.

b) Knowledge Can Produce Pride (1 Corinthians 8:1)
Knowledge without love can inflate the ego.

c) Love Builds Up (1 Corinthians 8:1)
The purpose of knowledge should be to strengthen others.

d) Knowledge Is Partial (1 Corinthians 13:9)
No believer possesses complete understanding.

Biblical Example: Apollos was knowledgeable in Scripture but remained teachable and accepted further instruction (Acts 18:24-26).

4. LOVE IS GREATER THAN FAITH

Extraordinary faith must still operate through love.

a) Faith Is Essential (Hebrews 11:6)
Without faith it is impossible to please God.

b) Great Faith Can Accomplish Great Things (1 Corinthians 13:2)
Paul describes faith capable of moving mountains.

c) Faith Must Work Through Love (Galatians 5:6)
Genuine faith expresses itself through love.

d) Spiritual Accomplishment Must Not Produce Pride (1 Corinthians 4:7)
Whatever we possess has ultimately been received from God.

Biblical Example: The centurion demonstrated remarkable faith in Jesus while seeking healing for his servant (Matthew 8:5-13).

5. LOVE IS GREATER THAN GIVING

Even generosity must have the right motivation.

a) Giving Is A Christian Virtue (2 Corinthians 9:7)
God delights in cheerful and willing giving.

b) Sacrificial Giving Is Valuable (1 Corinthians 13:3)
Paul describes a person giving away possessions to the poor.

c) Motives Matter To God (1 Samuel 16:7)
God looks at the heart behind the action.

d) Love Must Motivate Our Giving (2 Corinthians 8:5)
True generosity flows from devotion to God and concern for others.

Biblical Example: The Macedonian believers gave generously despite their own difficulties because they had first given themselves to the Lord (2 Corinthians 8:1-5).

6. LOVE IS GREATER THAN SACRIFICE

The greatest outward sacrifice can still be empty without love.

a) The Greatest Personal Sacrifice (1 Corinthians 13:3)
Paul presents the extreme example of giving one's body.

b) Sacrifice Without Love Profits Nothing (1 Corinthians 13:3)
God examines the motive behind our sacrifice.

c) Christ's Sacrifice Was Motivated By Love (Ephesians 5:2)
Jesus gave Himself because He loved us.

d) We Must Follow His Example (1 John 3:16)
Christian sacrifice should be motivated by love for God and others.

Biblical Example: Jesus willingly laid down His life for humanity (John 10:17-18).

7. LOVE MUST GOVERN EVERY GIFT

God never intended spiritual gifts to operate independently of Christian character.

a) Gifts Come From The Same Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4–11)
The diversity of gifts has one divine source.

b) Gifts Are Given To Profit Others (1 Corinthians 12:7)
Their purpose is the common good.

c) Gifts Must Build The Church (1 Corinthians 14:12)
Spiritual gifts should contribute to the growth of believers.

d) Love Must Be The Governing Principle (1 Corinthians 13:1–3)
Love prevents gifts from becoming instruments of selfish ambition.

Biblical Example: Paul instructed the Corinthian believers to pursue spiritual gifts while making edification their priority (1 Corinthians 14:1-5).

8. LOVE REVEALS THE TRUE VALUE OF MINISTRY

Ministry should be measured not only by what happens publicly but by the character produced privately.

a) Gifts Impress People; Love Blesses People
A gift may attract attention, but love genuinely serves.

b) Gifts Can Make A Person Visible; Love Makes Christ Visible
The ultimate goal of ministry is to reveal Jesus.

c) Gifts May Be Demonstrated Publicly; Love Is Tested Privately
Character is revealed in ordinary relationships and difficult circumstances.

d) Gifts Are For Service; Love Is The Spirit Of Service
Love ensures that ministry is focused on people rather than personal recognition.

CONCLUSION

God wants His church to be spiritually gifted. Paul did not tell the Corinthians to abandon spiritual gifts; rather, he instructed them to pursue them properly. However, no gift should ever occupy the place that belongs to love. Tongues, prophecy, knowledge, faith, giving, and sacrifice are valuable only when they operate in harmony with the character and purposes of Christ.

Therefore, choose love above gifts. Seek spiritual gifts, but seek love more earnestly. Develop your ministry, but develop your character as well. Let your preaching be accompanied by compassion, your faith by kindness, your knowledge by humility, your giving by sincerity, and your service by selflessness. When love is above gifts, ministry becomes Christ-centred, the church is edified, and God receives the glory.

PRAYER POINTS

1. Father, thank You for every spiritual gift and ability You have deposited in my life, in Jesus name.

2. Lord, help me to value and pursue love above spiritual gifts and personal recognition, in Jesus name.

3. Father, let every spiritual gift in my life operate under the control of Your love, in Jesus name.

4. Lord, deliver me from pride, competition, jealousy, selfish ambition, and the desire for human applause, in Jesus name.

5. Father, give me grace to use my gifts to build, strengthen, encourage, and bless others, in Jesus name.

6. Lord, let my knowledge always be accompanied by humility and my faith by genuine love, in Jesus name.

7. Father, purify my motives in preaching, teaching, giving, serving, and ministering to others, in Jesus name.

8. Lord, help me never to become so focused on spiritual manifestations that I neglect Christian character, in Jesus name.

9. Father, make my ministry a true reflection of the love and character of Jesus Christ, in Jesus name.

10. Lord, let my life and ministry bring edification to Your church and glory to Your name, in Jesus name.

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS

1. You shall be spiritually gifted and deeply rooted in the love of Christ.

2. Your gifts shall never become a source of pride, competition, or division.

3. The love of God shall govern every gift and ministry entrusted to you.

4. You shall use your spiritual gifts to strengthen, encourage, and bless others.

5. Your knowledge shall be accompanied by humility and wisdom.

6. Your faith shall work through love and produce lasting spiritual fruit.

7. Your giving, sacrifice, preaching, teaching, and service shall flow from a pure heart.

8. You shall not seek human applause above God's approval.

9. Your ministry shall reveal not only the power of God but also the character of Christ.

10. You shall walk in love above gifts, serve with humility, finish faithfully, and bring lasting glory to Jesus Christ, in Jesus name.