If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Paul understood the power that many of these gifts would have in people’s lives. He understood that people would use them as “calling cards” or bragging rights. He mostly understood the ability people had to abuse their gift and to lord it over someone else.

Enter love.

Love plus any of these gifts is significant. Love without any of these gifts is also important.

However, using these gifts without love is dangerous. These gifts were never to be used as weapons. They are used to build up the body of Believers in the church.

Paul wrote these verses as a warning to us. But the best part about these verses is what comes next. Read ahead a couple of times if you haven’t already memorized the rest of the chapter from previous readings.