The Love of God

1 Corinthians 13

A Basic Bible Summary by L.G. Parkhurst, Jr.

Pastor of Stonegate Cumberland Presbyterian Church

The Easy Printable PDF Version

               Reflect on how 1 Corinthians 13 reveals to us the nature, depth, and character of God's love.

Verse 1:

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

               An eloquent speaker with a wrong motive, not love, will affect us as a noisy gong.  Some use eloquent speech just to get our attention, just to manipulate people.  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God.  When God spoke He created the universe and all of its parts.  But if God did not do this with love as His motive, He would sound like a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  As it is, we speak of the music of the spheres.  As we read the Bible it is filled with such love that it does not have the effect on our minds or hearts as a noisy gong.  Think of how you feel mentally and spiritually when you read the Bible.  Doesn't the word of God sometimes warm you heart and minister to your spirit.  God's word is no noisy gong.

Verse 2:

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 do not have love, I am nothing. 

               God possesses infinite intelligence and knows everything from beginning to end.  God understands everything.  God can create anything, and God knows that He can do whatever He wants.  But if God does not have love, He is nothing.  God uses all of His infinite intelligence, wisdom and power from a motive of love, of wanting to promote the highest well-being and happiness of all creation.  If God did not have love, God would be nothing.  Think about how God has used His wisdom and power to meet your needs.  God's helping you is nothing short of an expression of His love for you.