“But earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best gifts and graces (the higher gifts and the choicest graces). And yet I will show you a still more excellent way [one that is better by far and the highest of them all – love],” 1 Cor. 12:31 (AMPLIFIED BIBLE). Chapter 12 of 1 Cor. is a chapter on the importance of each member of the body of Christ. That chapter compares the members of the body of Christ with the gifts of the Spirit in order to demonstrate our need for each gift and each member of the body of Christ. Chapter 14 of 1 Cor. is a chapter concerning tempering the gift of tongues and having order in the Church. Between chapters 12 and 14 of 1 Cor. is the chapter on love, chapter 13. Now I don’t believe that this is coincidental but done by design to teach us balance and temperament as it relates to how we use our gifts and talents in the body of Christ. This balance is more and more eroding in the body of Christ. We’re witnessing less and less discipline in Christian circles that result in many in the body of Christ being crushed by gifted and talented people who have no Christian character. What 1 Cor. 13 teaches us is that there must be a balance in our faith walk. That balance is love. And this applies to more than just the gifts and talents of the Believer. It applies to the message of prosperity, relationships, purpose, destiny, etc. Many of the activities we see occurring in the body of Christ are out of balance because the motivation is not out of love but selfish ambitions, notoriety, personal gain, or some other carnal trait. When our endeavors are tempered with love then we ultimately get to the right place where God would have us to be. Without love we are inconsiderate, uncompassionate, and self-serving, but with love we do what’s best for the whole and not just what’s best for the few. Love is the more excellent way, 1 Cor. 12:31.
In His Service,
Pastor Jeffery A. Muchison
Contact Information
Visit Us
Business Address:
61 Mount Calvary Church Road Waverly,
GA 31565
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 192 Waverly, GA 31565
Business Hours
Sunday Service
Sun: 10:30 am – 1:00 pm
Bible Study
Mon: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm