“And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” – 1 Corinthians 13:2-3 

Scripture reading: Philippians 3:7-9; Hebrews 13:20-21, 1 Corinthians 13:2-3

In vv. 2-3, Paul is speaking of these gifts in the greatest way we can imagine them: “if I…understand ALL mysteries and ALL knowledge…have ALL faith…give away ALL I have…”

When you add up the various gifts and services he mentions here, can you think of anyone greater than this from a human perspective? Surely this is Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year!” This is the most gifted, most “spiritual” person you can imagine. Any church would be dying to get this person as a member. But Paul looks at this person and says, “they’re nothing.” What does Paul mean? The guy who just got all this person’s wealth might beg to differ! Well, Paul means, this person is nothing in God’s eyes, because God looks on the heart.

What is the motivation of your heart as you use your gifts? Is it to boast or to get something from others? If so, Paul says you are nothing in God’s eyes. Where then is our hope of pleasing God when selfishness taints even our best works? Our hope is in Christ alone. Christ loved God and others perfectly and died for our sins so that we might be pleasing to God, through faith in Christ. Now we are free to love, not to gain something from others, for we’ve already gained everything we ultimately need in Christ. Let us then look to Christ by faith and love others from the heart, for the glory of God.

Suggestions for prayer

Pray that God would assure you that you are a beloved child in Christ. Pray that the Spirit would enable you to walk in love, as Christ loved you and gave Himself up for you (Ephesians 5:1-2).

Rev. Brian Cochran is ordained in the United Reformed Churches in North America and has served as the pastor of Redeemer Reformation Church in Regina, SK, for 14 years. This month he starts a new call to Grace URC in Torrance, CA. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.