1 Corinthians 13:8, Charity Never Faileth (2)
1 Corinthians 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
We have seen the 15 characteristics of charity from 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 which we would like to recall – 4 (1) Charity suffereth long meaning charity is patient, (2) charity is kind; (3) charity envies not; (4) charity vaunteth not itself, charity does not boast (5) charity is not puffed up, charity is not proud 5 (6) charity does not behave itself unseemly, charity is not rude (7) charity seeks not her own, charity is not self- seeking (8) charity is not easily provoked, charity is not easily angry (9) charity thinks no evil; charity keeps no record of wrongs 6 (10) charity rejoiceth not in iniquity, charity does not delight in evil (11) but charity rejoices in the truth; 7 (12) charity beareth all things, charity always protects others (13) believeth all things, always trusts (14) hopeth all things, always hopes (15) endureth all things, always persevere.
If there is any study that is critical for our spiritual progress, I encouraged you to study the character of God’s love. Jesus says in John 15:14-15, John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” The manifestation of the nature of God’s love is delineated for our learning.
The Apostle Paul compares it with other gifts in the second part of the verse pertaining to prophecies, tongues and knowledge which shall fail or shall cease and concludes that charity is superior over the other gifts of the Holy Spirit in that it never fails. It is an encouragement for believers to learn the character of God’s love and to manifest it in our interaction with one with another, at home, in the work place, in church, every where the Lord may send us. Jesus says, “by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples.” The world is in chaos with much war and hatred between people, between nations, in the homes and God’s people are asked to make a sanctifying difference. May the Lord grant us His grace to be salt and light for Him in a sin-darkened world by showing forth the power of God’s love that melts away every hatred in our hearts! Amen.