Posted on 08/05/2018 6:41:08 PM PDT by metmom
"If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal" (1 Cor. 13:1).
Love distinguishes true communication from useless chatter and meaningless noises.
Paul begins his discourse on love by stating the futility of languages without love. The Corinthians were enamored with the showy spiritual gifts, apparently to the neglect of those they deemed less spectacular (see 1 Cor. 12:12-31). One of the gifts they prized most highly was tongues, which was the Spirit-given ability to declare God's truth in a language unknown to the speaker but known to others who heard.
Tongues were a sign to provoke unbelieving Jewish people to consider the gospel (1 Cor. 14:21-22). Its first occurrence was on the Day of Pentecost when the Spirit enabled those assembled in the upper room to proclaim the mighty deeds of God in the native languages of the Jews gathered in Jerusalem at the time (Acts 2:4-11).
The "tongues of angels" Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 13:1 isn't the gift of tongues, as some suppose. He was simply using an exaggeration to emphasize his point, saying in effect, "If I had the ability to communicate with angels, it wouldn't do any good without love."
In Paul's day, the worship of Cybele and Dionysus, two pagan gods, incorporated speaking in ecstatic languages accompanied by blaring trumpets, smashing gongs, and clanging cymbals. I believe Paul was drawing from that well-known practice to say that whenever Christians attempt to minister apart from the Spirit and His love, it's no different than a pagan rite. It may look and sound like the real thing, but it's meaningless and useless for any spiritual benefit.
You should take advantage of every opportunity to minister your spiritual gifts to others. But as you do, be sure it's with love, in the energy of the Spirit, and in accordance with God's Word. Then you'll have a maximum impact as Christ uses your efforts for His glory.
Suggestions for Prayer
Ask God to convict you whenever you attempt to exercise your spiritual gifts without love.
For Further Study
Read Romans 12:1-21.
What does Paul say about spiritual gifts? How are Christians to express brotherly love to one another?
Studying God’s Word ping
I disagree that God stopped speaking to man when John Closed the Canon at the end of Revelation.
1. Holy Spirit speaks to us when He highlights a Scripture verse as we read.
2. CHRIST declared that HIS SHEEP HEAR HIS VOICE. That did not cease.
3. Paul declared and Joel declared that prophetic callings & voices were to be normative in Christian NT Church life.
4. I Cor 14 outlines how to handle such.
Yup, that’s all true.
The big problem is, not many people are as aware of 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 as they should be.
They pick the parts they like and run with it, and ignore the part about tongues being the least of the gifts and that we should not seek after it.
I sure don’t hear anyone beating the drum that we need to seek after the gift of discernment, or mercies, or helps, or giving.
Paul did say that he thanked God that he spoke in tongues more than you all, though.
Seeking after the capacity and habit to love like Jesus kind of results in the same sort of school as praying for patience and wisdom result in.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.