THE MOST IMPORTANT THING OF ALL ...

"But earnestly desire and strive for the greater gifts.

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal

And if I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and possess all knowledge; and if I have all sufficient faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

If I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it does me no good at all.” 1 Cor 12:31 - 13:3

I have heard many religious clichés in my life, and one of the worst ones goes like this, "Seek the Giver, not the gift!"

It sounds so spiritual, but the statement itself is unscriptural. We are of course to seek Jesus first and foremost, but the Bible tells us to ALSO covet, seek after, and strive for the gifts of God. It is not one or the other, but we seek BOTH! The gifts of God are precious blood-bought blessings. They are for the church and must be desired and sought after.

Then we go into the next three verses, which happen to be the first three verses of the next chapter.

There we are told that after we seek and find the gifts, faith, and the power of God, that which empowers these things is love. We may flow in the gifts of the Holy Spirit and have faith to move mountains, but if we do not have love, we are "nothing."

I have noticed that many ministers who flow in the gifts and the miracle-working power of God also develop a love of money and material things, and once money and wealth comes, the next thing is pride and arrogance. A person who loves money and power cannot walk in love and humility towards all people irrespective of their position in life. I personally have met very few who are mighty in the gifts of God and have yet kept themselves free from pride and the love of money.

But again, it is not choosing between love and the gifts, but God wants us to strive after BOTH; but the gifts are at their best in our lives when we walk in the love of God.

The Bible teaches us clearly that even though the gifts and the power of God are so precious, they must flow within the context of love. If I have the gifts, but do not have love, I am nothing.

"Faith works by love" and one day when all is passed away, love will remain because it is the greatest virtue of all.

Originally posted on Facebook by Pastor Christopher Alam