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Where We're Going (Context of 1 Corinthians 13)

Are you tired of fake people? The Apostle Paul felt the same way. 1 Corinthians is his response to a series of questions sent to him by the church in Corinth. Rather than immediately answering their inquiries, Paul first addresses some of the inauthentic (fake) things happening within their church community.

In chapter 13, Paul focuses on the topic of love. This chapter has become especially popular to read at weddings, but in its original context, it addressed the structure and approach of the church’s worship services—not just their individual relationships. Nevertheless, his beautiful description of authentic love offers us a roadmap for navigating our relationships with God, family, friends and even in dating.

In the You Complete Me Bible study, we’ll explore four “filters” to consider when determining whether love is real or fake—both within ourselves and in the people we surround ourselves with:

Day 1) Motive (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

Day 2) Morality (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Day 3) Maturity (1 Corinthians 13:8-12)

Day 4) Mission (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Prayerfully, as we walk through this brief chapter together, we will develop a deeper understanding of God’s complete and perfect love, which enables us to authentically love one another!

Day 1) Motive

Three Signs Of Bad Motives

1) Sound With No Sense

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” (1 Cor. 13:1 ESV).

The Corinthian church had become famous for their loud, boisterous worship services that lacked the accurate communication of God’s love. It doesn’t matter how something or someone sounds. If love is not present in their words, then the motives are insincere. In Jesus’ case, His words were always accompanied by acts of immense care and compassion. When you’re trying to determine the authenticity of someone’s love, consider the words they say and the life they live.

2) Skills With No Substance

“And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” (1 Cor. 13:2 ESV).

Continuing with the same theme, Paul addresses the church’s tendency to show off their perceived knowledge of God and the fancy ways they communicate it. Unfortunately, no matter how talented they were, they lacked a true understanding of God’s love. Jesus performed incredible miracles, and those miracles were often supported by indescribable kindness and compassion. Even if someone in your life can “act the part,” it’s no substitute for genuine, authentic love. A clear description of what this love looks like will be discussed in tomorrows overview of verses 4-7.

3) Serving With No Sacrifice

“If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” (1 Cor. 13:3 ESV).

Giving and serving are wonderful, but if done with selfish motives, they become worthless acts. When Jesus gave His life for us on the cross, He didn’t do it so that He could boast. He did it to demonstrate God’s incredible love for humanity. If someone is being nice or generous toward you, take time to consider their motives. You can also reflect on your own motives when you do something for others. Does it align with how God wants you to serve others?

Big Idea: Authentic love is demonstrated not just by words, talents or actions, but by genuine sacrifice and a heart of sincerity. Paul warns that without love, even the most impressive displays of ability and generosity are meaningless.

Let's Think About This:

Question 1) How can we distinguish between actions that are motivated by love and those that are motivated by selfish gain?

Question 2) In what ways have you seen "sound with no sense" or "skills with no substance" in your relationships, or even in your own life?

Question 3) How can we cultivate a deeper love that goes beyond surface-level acts of kindness and becomes a true reflection of Christ's love for us?