The Best Gift

Alba 9-28-2025

THE BEST GIFT

I Corinthians 13:1-3

Nik Wallenda holds eleven Guinness World Records for various acrobatic feats. He is best known for doing his high-wire performances without a safety net. In 2012, he was the first person to walk a tightrope stretched directly over Niagara Falls, and his last feat was walking across a volcano in Nicaragua in 2020.

Let me share an insight from Tino Wallenda, Nik’s uncle. Tino said, “When I was seven years old, my grandfather, Karl Wallenda, put me on a wire two feet off the ground. He taught me all the elementary skills: how to hold my body so that I remained stiff and rigid; how to place my feet on the wire with my big toe on the wire and my heel to the inside; how to hold the pole with my elbows close to my body.

“But the most important thing my grandfather taught me was that I needed to focus my attention on a point at the other end of the wire, a point that was unmoving and wouldn’t shift. That is how we maintain our balance on the wire. We need a point to concentrate on to keep us balanced.”

That technique of focusing is essential for tightrope walking, but it is also important for churches and Christians trying to accomplish God’s mission. In I Corinthians chapter 12, the apostle Paul outlines several special gifts of the Holy Spirit given to Christians. They had spiritual gifts, but were not using them well. At the end of that chapter (vs. 31) he calls on the church to “earnestly desire the best gifts”. That's where their focus should be. Then in chapter 13 he focuses on love.

Jerome, the Church historian, told this about the apostle John, that when he became old he used to go among the churches and assemblies, everywhere repeating the words, “Little children, love one another.” His disciples, wearied by the constant repetition, asked him why he always said this. “Because,” he replied, “it is the Lord’s commandment; and if it only be fulfilled, it is enough.” John knew that the greatest truth was most apt to be forgotten because it was taken for granted. And when it is, it causes divisions.

We talk about love. We love our dog, we love sports, we love music, we love baseball, we love apple pie. Someone sings, “I can’t help falling in love with you.” Someone else sings, “You’ve lost that loving feeling.” Someone else sings, “I love you. Please tell me your name.” That’s some really deep stuff.

The King James Version uses the word “charity” in this chapter which can be confusing, because the word here means a special kind of love; “agape” love. Agape love is self-giving love. There is no thought of receiving anything in return for the love given. It is “self-less” love. Pure. Clean. Without cost. Paul concluded that many of the problems at Corinth came from the lack of the right kind of love.

So he goes to the one thing that he knows will solve their problems. Paul tells them, “I will show you the more excellent way.” That way is love. Love is more important than heroic actions, and even more important than spiritual gifts. Love is the first of the fruit of the Spirit. So if you want the Spirit's gifts, you had better use them with love. That's the message we learn from chapter thirteen. Because...

Without Love I am Noise

I Corinthians 13:1 says, “ Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.” Have you ever been in some place where the noise was so great you couldn't hear what anybody was saying? So much noise that it gave you a headache? What good is that? If you can't understand what is being said, it is just a bunch of noise.

The Corinthians loved to speak in tongues. Many of them had the gift of speaking supernaturally in foreign languages. If it is being done just to impress others, it is just making noise. If the Corinthians were possessed with real love for fellow believers as the outflow and overflow of God’s love in their hearts, they would not be so intrigued by mere self-gratifying noise. Instead they would speak thoughtfully so that they might edify the church. This verse tells us that without love, words are empty. Words without love are like a resounding gong or a clanging symbol.

Back in the First Century, there was a big gong or cymbal hanging at the entrance of most pagan temples. When people came to worship, they hit them to awaken the pagan gods so they would listen to their prayers. Here, Paul is saying that even if he were so blessed that he could speak with the greatest of eloquence in every language, but didn’t have love, then his words were as useless as the ridiculous act of pounding on a gong to awaken non?existent gods.