1 Corinthians 13 is called the “love chapter” of the Bible.

In the church at this time, those who spoke in tongues believed that they were better than others. Those who prophesied felt that they were better than others. But Paul said that all of those things would fade away and that only love would last forever.

We have nothing to be proud about, even if we can speak in tongues or can speak prophesy or gifts of healing. We must humble ourselves and use every gift that God has given us to humbly serve Him.

1 Corinthians 12:31
³¹ But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

Paul was encouraging them to desire gifts but to seek the love of God more than anything else.

We should desire to have love more than anything else. Scripture clearly shows us that love is the greatest gift.

What is the nature of love? There are four different kinds of love.

1. Brotherly love (storge love)

Genesis 37:4
⁴ But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.

2. Love between a man and a woman (eros love)

2 Samuel 13:4
⁴ And he said to him, “Why are you, the king’s son, becoming thinner day after day? Will you not tell me?”
Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

3. Friendship love (phileo love)

Jonathan loved David as his own soul.

1 Samuel 20:17
¹⁷ Now Jonathan again caused David to vow, because he loved him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

4. God’s kind of love (agape love)

1 Corinthians 13 is talking about agape love, unconditional love, the kind of love that God has. God’s love will never die. Your love for someone else will fail.

Put God’s love into your love for others so that it will last.

If you don’t have love, you don’t have anything. Bring sacrificial love to one another and to God.

God bless you,
Pastor Sun East