God Doesn't Care

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
1 Corinthians 13 (click the link)


KEY VERSES:
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3, NASB)


THE BIG IDEA:
Entire books have been written on this chapter, the Love Chapter.  It’s quoted at weddings all the time, and preached on frequently.  So, what can we take from this chapter that hasn’t been repeatedly stated already?  Well, I titled this devotional “God Doesn’t Care,” which seems a bit of an odd title for this chapter on Love—unless you look at these verses in a little different manner.  You’ve heard it said, “The ends justify the means,” right?  In other words, as long as the outcome is positive, how you came to that outcome is really irrelevant.  Well, as usual, God sees things differently (go figure!).  What He is saying in the first three verses of this chapter is just the opposite—that no matter what the outcome (knowledge, prophecy, faith, giving, physical sacrifice, etc.) if the REASON you do these things isn’t right, the benefit is NOTHING!


REFLECTIONS:
Man looks at outward appearances, but God sees the heart; or to put it into the context of this chapter, no matter what the outcome, if our motivation for doing something good is not from Love, there is absolutely no benefit to us.  Why is God so interested in the motivation behind the action, rather than the action itself?  Because God is mainly interested in making us Christ-like. GOD DOESN'T CARE if we have great outcomes in our spiritual life, unless our motivation to achieve those outcomes is from Love!!! If our use of spiritual gifts is motivated by anything other than love, then it will eventually become destructive and profit us NOTHING. The Pharisees were experts in this; they looked great on the outside, but inside were “whitewashed tombs.” They had great outward appearances, and did lots of good works and deeds, but Jesus saw through this façade and into their hearts; he knew their motivation was not from Love, so he condemned them for it.


POINT OF ACTION:
I think that it’s interesting to note that this chapter on Love is situated right between two chapters that discuss spiritual gifts.  Each of us have gifts and talents that can and should be used for the “building up of the saints.”  However, right in the midst of how to use these gifts, Paul throws in this whole discussion of Love… it’s perfect timing!  Yes, we should use our gifts; yes, we can bless others with the gifts God has given us; but unless our motivation in using these gifts comes from Love, we are nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  See, GOD DOESN'T CARE what we look like on the outside, he wants us filled with the Love of His Spirit; once that’s done, the outside will look just fine too. 


PRAYER:
Lord, search my heart and show me how to be motivated only by Love.  Remove from me the insides of the white-washed tomb, make me clean, and fit for Your service.  Thank you for the gifts you’ve given me, now please, show me how to use them in Love. 


WHO AM I?
I’m Alan Wassel, along with the charming and vivacious Jennifer. Yesterday’s picture was from the top of the Empire State Building, here’s a photo a little closer to “terra-firma”… the ground floor.