Changing the Subject

Scripture: No, but try your best to have the more important of these gifts. First, however, let me tell you about something else that is better than any of them! 1 Corinthians 12:31

Observation: As Paul concludes his teaching on spiritual gifts, outlining that not everyone will have all the gifts but rather specific gifting to serve the church, he concludes with this ... that there is something better than spiritual gifts! Of course, the next section is about love.

Paul has spent his entire letter answering the questions of the church at Corinth. He has answered questions about sexual morality, spiritual gifts, marriage, church practices, leadership, and common meals. Now he declares a new subject of his choosing, about which they did not ask, and introduces it by saying it is even better than a supernatural ability provided by God himself. Love is the core of what matters. It defines everything else. Love allows gifts to be useful, for assistance to be received, for teaching and correction to be heard, for faith to matter.

After all the questions the church had are answered - there are even more questions that Paul says he will cover when he next comes to see them - he then tells them there is something foundational to all of it that they aren't even asking about. It is love.

Application: We currently live in the most angering, frustrating moment I can think of. Maybe it has been more so in some places during some times in history, but not in the U.S. I get angry about something daily, even while I try not to engage in the madness of our lost society. In regard to this, the other day our pastor said something that I now have on a post-it on my desk:

To change the world, change the subject.

Paul understood that the gospel of Jesus was a message designed to change the world. While he could discuss at length any and all ideas about how to be obedient to Jesus, he would rather change the world by changing the subject ... not about rules, but about love.

When I get angry about the lies of politicians ... how can I show love to them and the people they're harming? When I get frustrated about pandemic rules ... how can I show love to those who are afraid? When I hear foolish beliefs from hopeless people ... how can I offer them love as a path to hope?

There is a narrative in my head. I need to change the subject of that narrative.

Prayer: Lord, may my narrative this day and every day be love. That is the primary topic that can bring your kingdom into the world. Amen.