When my son was learning to read, he realized he could decipher street signs—especially speed limit signs. Thrilled with his new skill, he would call out from the backseat, “Mom, the speed limit is 30—it’s 30!” The first couple of times this happened, I thought it was cute. The next few times, I found it tolerable. Each announcement after that became more trying, even though I knew he was attempting to be helpful.
Sometimes I think Christians have the same effect on people who aren’t walking with God. We spew repeated warnings, but only end up exasperating the other party. We can avoid this mistake by heeding the apostle Paul’s words: “If I could speak all the languages of the earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1). While barking out advice will send people away with hands over their ears, loving communication can open doors . . . and ears.
Without love, godly advice may seem preachy and—worse yet—insincere. Paul said, “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. . . . Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other” (Romans 12:9-10, emphasis added). Honoring a person may mean giving him space, or trying to understand his perspective even it doesn’t match our own. It could mean performing acts of kindness or speaking words of appreciation.
As Christians, we’re not only called to care, we’re empowered to do this through Jesus’ love for us. He said, “Love each other, just as I have loved you” (John 13:34). Because He loves us deeply, sincerely, and eternally, we can lovingly share this kind of affection with the people who need it the most.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Exodus 19:1-25
More:
Read Galatians 6:1 to see how gentleness and humility can help someone who is overcome by sin. Look up Proverbs 15:2 to see the effect of wisdom combined with words.
Next:
Paul said that faith, hope, and love would last forever, but that love was the greatest. Why is this true? How might you show someone genuine love this week?
gillian on February 14, 2014 at 2:48 am
Thank you very much Jennifer for pointing out the distinction between being a bad and good witness, if our words and actions are not motivated by love. I think this is why Christians are so good at initiating and implementing social action projects, where we can reach out to others in a loving, caring, supportive and non-judgmental way and actively show God’s love to them.
jennifer benson schuldt on February 14, 2014 at 3:43 pm
gillian,
Augustine said, “What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.” This quote reminds me of Jesus’ compassion as he related with the people He met during His time on earth (Matthew 9:36, Matthew 14:14, Mark 1:41).
Mike Wittmer on February 14, 2014 at 12:31 pm
This is an excellent reminder that we can be right and wrong at the same time. I like how Peter encouraged wives to respect their unsaved husbands so “your godly lives will speak to them without any words” (1 Peter 3:1).
jennifer benson schuldt on February 14, 2014 at 3:48 pm
Mike,
My grandmother lived out 1 Peter 3:1. When she passed away, my grandfather commented, “If there is a heaven, she’s in it.” Because of my grandmother’s faith, my mother became a Christian, and then my father, and then my brother and I. Her life is an example of how one person can impact multiple generations through the power of Christ’s love.
Wayne on February 14, 2014 at 2:35 pm
This is a great reminder without Love we can do nothing & God is Love, Thank you Jennifer !In his Love, Wayne
jennifer benson schuldt on February 14, 2014 at 3:52 pm
“God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them” (1 John 4:16). As the rest of the verse says, we can put our trust in God’s love–God’s stable, perfect, unending love. I’m so thankful for that!
daisymarygoldr on February 15, 2014 at 4:33 pm
Jennifer, enjoy your little one’s new-found ability to be able to decipher street signs—while it lasts 🙂 For, he will soon grow out of that brief phase of development.
Similarly, no one will keep spewing repeated warnings for ever. God’s Spirit does not always strive with man. In the Bible, prophets warned people only for a brief season. We are warned once or twice. Those who resist or scoff at the solemn warnings will soon stifle the Holy Spirit into silence. Godly advice may seem preachy but does not prolong.
Having given you that assurance, let us talk about the noisy gong. I have heard you and others using this word picture to describe individuals that speak the truth without love. Prayerfully read the passage again to gain the right interpretation of clanging cymbal.
What is Paul referring to in 1 Corinthians 13:1? Is it about preaching or speaking against sin? No. This is clearly about the spiritual gift of tongues. The carnal Corinthian church was both proud of and envied those who spoke in tongues. And Paul puts this gift into perspective by saying— the beautiful-sounding gift was nothing more than irritating noise if it was not exercised with love.
Point is: it is not about the gifts but the right motive for having and using them. Paul is reminding us that spiritual gifts being imperfect and incomplete will cease. But love is eternal and will last forever. Love is the divine nature of God and defines the very purpose of who He created us to be.