#DailyDevotion Don’t Brag About Stuff That Is Temporary
1 Cor. 13:8-13 8Love never dies. If there are prophecies, they will come to an end; or other languages, they will stop; or knowledge, it will vanish. 9We learn only a part of anything and prophesy only a part. 10But when that which is perfect comes, what is only a part will vanish. 11When I was a child, I used to talk like a child, think like a child, plan like a child. Now that I’m a man, I’ve given up the ways of a child. 12Now we see a blurred image in a mirror, but then we’ll see face to face. Now I learn only a part of anything, but then I’ll know as He has known me. 13And now these three, faith, hope, and love, go on, but the most important of these is love.
Paul continues with the theme of love here. Love never dies he says. It will continue on into the New Heavens and New Earth. Now Paul starts talking about things that will die, or end, or cease to be needed. He says prophecies will end, Speaking in other languages will end. Knowledge will end.
What is Paul talking about these things will end? He is building up to that. Against those who are puffed up in the congregation because they had received some prophecy or knowledge or any other sort of thing he tells them they only learn a part and prophecy a part. But when that is perfect comes, then that which is only a part will disappear. Perfect here has the sense of fullness or completion. What the use of bragging and being boastful of something that is only a part and isn’t complete when that will disappear?
What is Paul saying that he knows only a part of anything but then he will know as Jesus has known me? When we see our LORD Jesus Christ as he is we will fully know him. We will be given an understanding of all things when we see him. These things that have only been given in part will be of no use anymore when we see our LORD Jesus Christ at his second advent. They were given to give us faith, life and salvation. When Jesus who is our life appears and the new creation, his kingdom is made manifest we will have no need for these things.
Faith, hope and love remain for we will continue trusting and hoping in God our Father in the world to come even as the angels continually put their faith and hope in God. Yet love is the most important of these three. Faith and hope lead us to love. Love is their telios, their end, their completion. Love of God and of fellow man is the consummation of everything. That we would love God and love those made in his image and likeness is we were created for. It is why God demonstrates his great love for us in Christ Jesus who suffered all, even death on the cross for us that we might be saved and know God’s love for us, for you. So for now let us have a proper perspective on these gifts and graces God gives us to serve the Church and lead people to Jesus. They are only a means to the greater end of love of God and man in Christ Jesus.
Heavenly Father, bestow upon us faith, grace and love in our hearts so we may more properly love you and your creation as you love us in Christ Jesus. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.