If only I had more money, I could have everything I need.

If only I could get that raise then I could buy her that present.

If only my boss would overlook my faults then I could get that raise.

If only my teacher would quit giving me so much homework then I could probably get good grades.

“If” is such an interesting word. Paul is talking to the church at Corinth where there were apparently many different problems causing division. Some were aligning behind different leaders. The gift of tongues had become a much sought after “prize” because it was so different.

Paul addresses these issues one at a time but then lumps it all together in this introduction to chapter 13. Remember at the end of chapter 12 he had said he was going to show them a “more excellent way.”

Paul uses the first person to describe what it would be like if he had all of these spiritual gifts in abundance:

• the ability to speak in ALL languages, both of men and angels
• the ability to understand ALL God’s mysteries
• the possession of ALL knowledge
• the faith that could literally move a mountain
• the gift of giving EVERYTHING HE OWNED to the poor
• the gift of SACRIFICING HIS OWN LIFE

Then he comes in with the big one…

All of those over-the-top gifts and abilities mean NOTHING

without the LOVE of GOD operating in His life…in my life…in your life.

1 Corinthians 13:1 - 3 (NLT) ¹If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ²If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. ³If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM…