This weeks verses - 1 Corinthians 13:1&2
There are words in the Greek for various kinds of love.
There is a word aeros, that’s the kind of love that we associate with sexual attraction. That’s the love that takes.
Then there is phileo, that’s the love of friendship, that’s the love that gives and takes.
And then there’s agape and that’s the love that just gives.
1 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.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
That is strong language. Paul doesn’t say a lack of love diminishes our impact, he says it eliminates it. We become nothing.
Love is the more excellent way. More excellent then the way the Corinthians were functioning, more excellent than their discontent, distrust, jealousy, envy, selfishness, and pride which characterized them as we find out in the opening twelve chapters. They had counterfeited the gifts. They had used the gifts without love. Paul shows the true gifts must work with love to be of any value.
Again we go over what love is:
It never means simply a friendly cordial hospitality. It’s not talking about tolerance. It’s not talking about brotherly kindness. It’s not talking about some kind of ecumenical love (Concerned with establishing or promoting unity among churches or religions). It never simply means charity, that’s too narrow that connotes giving to the poor, it’s not just that either. We’re talking about an act of selfless sacrifice. "God so loved the world that He gave" "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Toungues:
Paul is simply not claiming to speak all languages, though he did speak, as he says in the fourteenth chapter, he is not claiming to speak angel language. He is simply saying in a hyperbole, “If I did speak in the languages of men and even the language of angels.” If I could transcend my limitations and even get in to angelic conversation, it really wouldn’t matter if it wasn’t done in love.”
Prophecy:
“If I have the gift of prophecy,” this is the greatest gift, the greatest gift. Verse 1, chapter 14, “Pursue love...pursue love yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy...prophesy.” You want to speak. That’s what prophesy means, to speak. The one who prophesies, verse 3, speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.” There’s the best definition of prophecy in the Bible. Right there, verse 3. The one who prophesies speaks to men for edification, exhortation and consolation, or comfort. This is the supreme gift because it’s understood.
But though you have the gift of prophecy, if you do not have love, you’re nothing. And Paul puts it again in the first person. “I am nothing.” Preachers with no love are many and they are all nothing...nothing.
To exercise the gift of preaching, proclamation of the truth apart from love for God, love for His people and to do it for self-glory and fame and personal achievement and success and pride is to wind up being a nothing...a nothing. Language without love is nothing. Preaching without love is nothing.
Mysteries:
...what are mysteries? Things that are unknown to man, hidden until revealed by God. If you understood all the hidden mysteries, if you had all knowledge.
Knowledge:
There are people who are highly educated, who are very wise, very knowledgeable, gifted communicators and are self-satisfied and self-promoting and distant from people and seemingly indifferent and uncaring and in God’s view they’re nothing. Knowledge, 1 Corinthians 8:1, “Knowledge puffs up, love builds up,” 1 Corinthians 8:1. Knowledge without love is impotent. Knowledge with love is potent.
(the above was taken from a sermon by John MacArther)