Day 325 or November the 21st. Are you all sound
and no substance? Our thoughts today come from
1 Corinthians chapter 13 verse 1. If I speak
in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not
have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging
cymbal. And now the big picture surrounding this
verse. Paul gives some sound teaching on body
ministry, stressing that we are all different,
like parts of the human body, but we are all
essential and uniquely gifted. Part of many pagan
rituals around the world is making strange noises
and speaking in an unintelligible way that others
cannot understand. With this background, many
of the Corinthian believers coveted the spiritual
gift of speaking in tongues and saw it as a sign
of spiritual one-upmanship. Paul makes his disagreement
with them very clear and also takes the opportunity
to teach about spiritual gifts in general. In
the midst of all this, he takes a whole chapter
to extol the virtues of love. This reading has
become an integral part of millions of wedding
services over the centuries. And now today's
action step. Paul explains a major pitfall to
be avoided by all Christians. Never be someone
who is all sound and no substance. Without godly
love, that's all we are. As believers, it is
better to be quiet and show love than to be noisy
and do nothing. As someone whose life has included
speaking many words, this is something for me,
and probably for all preachers and parents and
children, probably everyone. We need to show
love, which Paul describes as patient, kind,
not jealous or boastful, or proud or rude, never
demanding its own way, never being irritable,
keeping no record of being wronged. Never rejoicing
about injustice, but rejoicing whenever the truth
wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith,
is always hopeful, and endures through every
circumstance. Love will last forever. This is
a mere daydream and totally impossible without
God's help and empowering Holy Spirit. So stop
just trying and start Jesus trusting.