Continuing in his discussion on the true nature of love, Paul maintained
that it will never fail. It simply means that love can be counted on to help
the task of edifying the life of another within the body. At best, the gifts
that we possessed are only temporary, no matter what they may be. Whether they
be gifts of prophecy or tongues or knowledge, they will all cease. They all
belong to this age, whereas love is timeless.
Furthermore these gifts are also partial. When Paul said, “For we know
in part and we prophesy in part,” he was saying that not every member of the
body has all the gifts. Some may have the gift of prophecy, some may have
knowledge, but not all the gifts. Whereas everyone in the body of Christ has
love and can operate their gifts in love.
Paul tells us in verse 10 that the partial will be done away, when the
perfect comes. This is the difficult part. What does he mean by the word
“perfect”? Is Paul referring to the Bible? Or is he referring to the perfect
age which Christ will introduce at His glorious appearing? Paul was most likely
referring to the time when everyone had reached maturity. The word perfect had
often been used in the New Testament to talk about maturity of a believer. When
a person has reached perfect Christlikeness. Then these gifts would be
unnecessary. However, we know that on this side of earth, where imperfection is
the call of the day, it is difficult to attain ultimate Christlikeness. Like
the Apostle John said in his letters to the early church, only when we see Him
as He is then we shall be changed in an instant of a moment and be like Him.
Hence it would be safe to conclude that Paul was referring to the ultimate
consummation of the age. It would be the moment when we will all be like our
Lord and Master and would therefore have no necessity for these gifts.
However, we still need to remember that Paul’s purpose was to show love
as the perfect way to go about exercising the gifts, without which all gifts
would be meaningless. Paul was contrasting gifts with love that will never come
to an end. The analogy of the child and adult in verse 11 proves the point that
Paul was referring to “perfect” as a time of maturity. When we become totally
Christ-like in the age of the consummation, we will have no need for the gifts
that are so necessary now. Know that love does not remove the gifts for now. Love is needful for Christian life both now
and forever. But gifts, on the other hand, are not forever; they are presently needed
to help build up the body that’s in need for edification now. As far as this side of earth is concerned, we
will only understand and know in parts. But when the perfect age comes we will
know fully and have perfect knowledge.
In conclusion,
Paul shows us that love is the greatest in comparison to hope and faith. When
we get to heaven faith will be replaced by what we can fully see; hope will be
replaced by reality; whereas love will not be replaced. It is the essential
characteristic of all who will be in heaven.
Let’s show
love, the God’s kind of love. Love will always add value to our service for
Christ. We must seek to exercise and practice it. Bear in mind that faith will
enable us to trust God and appropriate His promises; hope will enable us to
expect what God will do; but it is love that will enable us to bless others,
especially our fellow believers.
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