A Still More Excellent Way

Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 (NKJV)

And now abide faith, hope, and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NKJV)

If we take the time to read 1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13, we will realize that the apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of love within the body of Christ and highlights the diversity of roles among believers, reminding us that love is essential above all spiritual gifts.

In this series of Bible verses, Paul discusses the diverse roles within the Church, emphasizing that all believers are integral parts of the body of Christ. He stresses that while spiritual gifts are important, love is paramount, stating that, without love, even the greatest gifts and sacrifices are meaningless. Paul outlines the nature of love as patient, kind, and enduring, concluding that faith, hope, and love remain, but the greatest of these is love.

Each one of us has a particular place in the Church. Even knowing this, many Christians confront the problem of lack of identity. This causes them to live a life of frustration and to be unsatisfied. We should know and understand that each one has been redeemed and has a special place in the body of Christ. It is our duty to discover which is our place and learn how to situate ourselves in it. We should also identify and respect other members. We are all part of the same body, and we all have the same importance.

I have discovered through the years that the conflict does not lie as much in those who cannot identify and respect other members of the body. Rather, I have found many conflicted Christians who are in crisis because they do not accept with dignity who they are. I realize many times we are dazed by other ministries, and we think that if we do not feel equal, we are not complete in the body. Through this way, we spend all our time trying to imitate others, and we never come to complete the function in what we are really called to.

In these first few verses that were mentioned in the beginning (vs. 12:27-31), the apostle mentions that God has "PLACED" some in the church the way He wanted. It is God who places us. It is important to know how to wait for the time and place the Lord has for each one.

Yet this does not mean that we should have a conformist attitude, since I am speaking of location and acceptance, and not satisfaction. Rather, in verse 31, the apostle Paul clearly insists for us to procure spiritual gifts. I believe that today one of the most impetuous currents in Christianity has to do with ministers that promote gifts, emphasizing the importance of a ministry, and they are not wrong. We should earnestly desire the greater gifts (vs. 12:31).

Personally, I like people who always seek something more, even the apostle showed the relevancy of seeking a still more excellent way. This is the way of love.

Spiritual gifts and ministries with no love are like a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal (vs. 13:1). Many times I have found when I get to a place, that our ministry is already known, and it seems that what we have been doing makes such noise that the wavelengths travel before we even get to those places. But lately I wonder if those people know us for the noise we do or the love we express. I ask myself if the ministry the Lord has given us (this has to do with the functioning of the gifts inside the ministry) or the strength of the love with which we move is brighter (this has to do with the reflection of the character of God in a person).

The Word of the Lord is radical. We can have all the prophecy, knowledge, and faith, but if we do not have love, we are nothing (vs. 13:2). So many times I have admired ministries that move in a tremendous anointing and a "high" level of revelation; today, I sadly see them die, making me realize that which they called "the highest" lacked "the perfect and still more excellent."

This saying holds a great truth: Not everything that shines is gold. There is a way that is still more excellent… the way of love.

If what motivates us isn't love, then nothing that we do has a purpose, even when we sell all our possessions to buy food for the poor, and we deliver our bodies to be burned (vs. 13:3).

We cannot say we love God if this is not reflected in our lives and conduct. The incongruence of what we preach and what we live is what has been a stumbling block for many.

Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, endures all things. (vs. 13:4-7).

Brethren, when we go to heaven, we will not take anything from our ministries; the only thing we will carry with us is the love we have moved in. This is the thing that never fails (vs. 13:8).

In such a time as this, when everyone comes for faith, hope, and love, let us never forget that the greatest of these is love.