Trying to make sense of 1 Corinthians 13 by using a God inspired mathematical equation…

There’s nothing like your child’s 7th grade math homework to remind you just how little you remember about math.  Most of the time, I’ve got the basics down; addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.  But it’s pretty iffy after that.  I do remember one simple equation.

If a=b and b=c then a=c.

This simple truth has biblical application.  It has the ability to usher in clarity and power.  Let me explain.

1 Corinthians 13 is simultaneously beautiful and condemning.  Let’s review verses 1-8.

If I speak in tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

I was always a little perplexed by the first few verses and pretty condemned by the last. But I was leaning into love defined as an emotion, a feeling. It was hard to wrap my mind around surrendering my body to the flames and simultaneously having my heart explode with love.

Then the whole…love is patient, love is kind thing.  I certainly wouldn’t describe myself as patient or kind and I definitely struggle with the whole not easily angered or keeping no record of wrongs.

So this passage seemed like a double-edged sword to me.  Beautiful and condemning.

But one Sunday morning, eighteen years ago while attending Redeemer Church in NYC, God used Tim Keller to open my eyes to some truth that changed everything.  That simple mathematical equation came into play.

If God=love then love=God. (1 John 4:16)  I can now use the words almost interchangeably.

Now when I re-read the passage it is beautiful, freeing and empowering.

If I speak in tongues of men and of angels, but have not God, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not God, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames but have not God, I gain nothing.

Reading the first half of the passage this way brought great clarity regarding over-seas missions.  Often when oversees, I would meet non-Christians serving the world’s poor and most vulnerable.  I thought…Lord, what makes us different?  If even non-believers will travel great distances at great costs to love the poor, how are we any different/any better? 

Although I don’t believe we are any better, what we offer is infinitely better.  While non-Believers may offer the needy temporary relief from earthly suffering, the recipient is still left without an eternal hope.  Non-Believers offer sacrifice without purpose.  The needy ultimately gain nothing of eternal value without God.

And there are certainly people who operate in the spiritual realm of darkness that can offer future predictions (prophecy) and move mountains–fortune tellers/curses.

In light of this, I understand the passage.  I gain clarity. Without love, without God, I am a resounding gong, I am nothing and gain nothing.

It’s the second half of the passage that now offers power and freedom.

God is patient, God is kind.  God does not envy, God does not boast, God is not proud.  God is not rude, God is not self-seeking, God is not easily angered, God keeps no record of wrongs.  God does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  God always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Doesn’t that make so much more sense?  I may wait indefinitely to feel patient or kind or not easily angered.  But God is patient. God is kind.  God keeps no records of wrong for those who have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus.

I firmly believe my struggle to be kind or patient is a reflection of my need for Christ.  The more I seek Christ, the more I abide in Him, the more easily I will be able to operate in kindness and patience. The more I allow Christ to rule in my life, the more I will be able to live out the 2nd half of the passage.  But trying to fulfill this passage though feeling patient or kind or not easily angered will leave me frustrated and condemned.  It’s an impossible feat without God.  To the degree I need patience is to the degree I need Christ.  It’s a barometer of my need for Him.

And we all know the love peddled by this world will fail, but I Corn. 13:8 promises me…

 

God never fails.