“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.”
1 Corinthians 13:1

The Apostle Paul is writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit concerning receiving (1 Cor. 12: 31) and exercising the gifts of the Spirit given to us by God. In the verse above, He shows the possibility of operating these gifts in a backslidden condition. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance (Rom. 11:29).
In this text, Paul speaks of the ability to speak with tongues of men and of angels: But to do so without having charity (Love), would be as a sounding brass or tinkling cymbal. I equate that to mean just a noise without the touch of God’s anointing; it fails to bless anyone. The letter kills but the Spirit gives life (2 Cor. 3:6). Preaching without love can do more damage than good.
The word for charity in the original Greek is “Agape” which means spontaneous and divine love. That is the God kind of love. 1 Cor. 13, is one of the most beautiful chapters in the entirety of God’s Word. For it reveals that if you do good things for the wrong purpose and not out of the Spirit of Love, you will profit nothing (V. 3). But charity never fails (V. 8).
As we have just celebrated Valentine’s Day, Let us be filled and show the love that our God and Saviour Jesus Christ has given to us. For God is Love!

Happy Valentine’s Day,
Love,
Pastor Larry