1 Corinthians 13:1

1 Corinthians 13:1 says, 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.  This is often referred to as the love chapter.  We first need to realize that charity as Paul uses it here is more accurately translated as love.  Paul said that even if he could speak in the languages of all people, or even the language of the angels, but he had no love for those that he was speaking to, he was just making so much noise.  If we are witnessing to people today without the love of God for them in our hearts, we are just proclaiming empty words from our perspective.  God may us our witnessing to reach others, but we lose the joy that it should bring us.  If we are witnessing more out of a sense of duty without love for those we are witnessing to, we are just making so much noise.  Verse two adds, And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.  We may pray to understand everything that God teaches us or even for a mountain moving faith, but Paul tells us even if we had this ability, without love for those around us it amounts to nothing.  We are not given this strong faith and great understanding for our own benefit, but to reach out to the lost people in the world in love.  Verse three continues, And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.  I believe that Paul is telling us that the deeds that we do are not as important as the attitude that we have for doing them.  Even if we give all our possessions to the poor, but do it not because of a real love for them through Christ, then we do not profit from it spiritually.  Paul tells us once again that love is the key.  Verse four states, Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,  We need to remember that charity is more accurately interpreted love, and then Paul tells us some of the attributes of love.  Love suffers long and is kind.  We are not called to have a love for the lost until they reject us or out of pity for them, but we are love them even if they do reject us.  We are not to be puffed up in our own goodness, but to be humbled in service to God because of His love for us.  We are to share that God like love with others without putting limits on it.  Verse five adds, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;  Paul is still speaking of the love that God gives us through our faith in Christ.  We cannot just do what benefits us the most and show the real love of God to the world.  We in love for others cannot be easily provoked and think evil of others.  Too often we seem to be just waiting for people to reject the gospel so we can then feel hatred toward them.  We need to remember that we are called to reach the people of the world in love, not to destroy them in hatred.  Verse six says, Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; I believe Paul was warning Christians against rejoicing in anything obtained by iniquity.  We may have great success in the world, but unless that success is consistent with the truth of God, we certainly have no reason to rejoice.  If we rejoice, it must be due to the fact that we are living by the truth of God.  Of love,   Verse seven adds, Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.  I believe that Paul was speaking of a Godlike love.  We often confuse feel good emotions with love, and if those emotions go away, we assume we fell out of love.  Real love is not just an emotional choice that we turn on and off, but it is a commitment to another that lasts through everything.  This love holds up under pressure and leads to hope and not despair.  Verse eight continues, Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.  Paul said that some of the other gifts of God might fail us at times, but real Godlike love never will.  That is why Paul tells us we must have this type of love in our hearts. If we do, even if other things fall, it never will.  Verse nine states, For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.  Paul tells us that when we exercise the other gifts, we do so without the full knowledge of God, and I believe in context tells us that if we love as God loves, we have a complete knowledge of love. Verse ten adds, But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. One day, when we are called away to heaven, everything in life will be made perfect, and those things that we only know in part will be made complete.  Verse eleven continues, When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.  I believe Paul is telling us that we need to grow in our faith and knowledge of God's will.  Our faith is not to remain childish, but to grow in maturity, just as a child grows physically.  Verse twelve says, For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.  Paul tells us that we cannot clearly see everything about God in this world, but there is coming that day when we depart this world and see God clearly with nothing coming between Him and us.  Verse thirteen adds, And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.  Paul says that our faith and hope in God will abide, but that the greatest of these three mentioned is charity, or love.  We must love others with a love like God has for us.