(1 Corinthians 13:1)
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.”
There are two important truths
we must consider from this powerful verse. First, it speaks of the “tongues of
men and of angels” — in other words, the languages spoken by both humans and
heavenly beings. Second, Paul warns us that if love is absent, even our most
eloquent speech becomes nothing more than empty, harsh noise. A clanging cymbal
might be loud, but it carries no melody — it grates the ears rather than
blesses the heart.
This morning, I want to focus
our hearts on love, the essence of Christian character. Paul’s
teachings on the matter are clear. Unfortunately, debates and divisions within
Christian circles over spiritual gifts, particularly tongues, have often
overshadowed the unity we should have in Christ.
(1
Corinthians 14:39)
“So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking
in tongues.”
Paul clearly affirms the gift of
tongues, but equally stresses the need for order and interpretation.
(1
Corinthians 14:27)
“If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each
in turn, and let someone interpret.”
There seems to be a scramble in
understanding the interpretation of tongues. Some say it is a language,
which it certainly is, while others argue that the interpretation is
not a direct translation but rather a Spirit-led rendering of
what was spoken — conveying the heart of the message, not necessarily the
word-for-word structure. This distinction is vital, as it reminds us that
interpretation is a gift, not a mechanical process. It flows from
the Spirit’s prompting and aims to edify the church, not to entertain or
impress.
It’s important to note that
spiritual gifts are never meant to cause chaos. No one should claim they are
powerless to control the gift. That idea is unbiblical.
(1
Corinthians 14:32)
“And the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.”
This verse confirms that the
gifted one can exercise that gift responsibly. There may be a strong prompting
from the Spirit to speak, but never an uncontrollable force. God is not the
author of confusion.
The only time I have ever seen
someone completely lose control of their faculties was during demonic
possession. I witnessed voices change and aggression rise up in ways that were
completely out of character for the individuals involved. It was not emotional
exaggeration or theatrics — it was something unnatural. In one instance, I saw
a man speak in a woman’s voice. After the encounter, when I questioned those
involved, they had no recollection of what had transpired. That kind of loss of
control is not of the Holy Spirit — it is of the demonic. This is why I am
convinced that true spiritual gifts, especially the gift of tongues, do not override the
believer’s will or composure.
It’s also worth understanding
that speaking in tongues is not the ultimate evidence of
receiving the Holy Spirit. There is a distinction between receiving the Holy
Spirit as a believer and being granted the gift of tongues,
which is one of the nine gifts of the Spirit.
(1
Corinthians 12:30)
“Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all
interpret?”
The answer is clearly “no” — not
everyone does. I trust this helps clarify the difference.
But wherever you land on the
subject of tongues, we must not allow it to become a stumbling block that
hinders our love for one another. Without love, we’re just making noise. Love
and truth must walk hand in hand, for they cannot be separated.
Love has a beautiful face, one
that can soften even the hardest of hearts. Picture Jesus hanging on the cross,
enduring the mockery of sinful men. Imagine Him looking into the eyes of one of
His accusers and saying:
“Father, forgive them, for they
know not what they do.”
(Luke 23:34)
What power must have flowed from
that look of compassion! What could the mocker say in return?
Even in our bitterness or when
we’re wronged, the love of Christ must be the pattern we follow. This is what
Christian living is all about — laying down our lives, not for the sake of
compromise, but for the sake of redemptive love.
Yes, truth matters deeply. But
truth without love can become a weapon. The goal is not to win arguments but to
win souls.
God alone sees the heart. He
knows whom He will draw to repentance. And here we must make something clear
— election is not the result of man’s choice, but of God’s sovereign
will. It is He who chooses, He who
calls, and He who gives the gift of repentance.
“God
resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
(James 4:6)
Let us never forget that we are
not saved by our own decision, but by the mercy of God. He loved us first. He
called us when we were dead in sin. And we responded only because His Spirit
made us alive. Every aspect of our salvation — from beginning to end — rests in
His will, not ours.
Let us remember that all we are
and all we have is by His grace. There’s always a temptation to think more
highly of ourselves than we ought, especially if we’ve lived cleaner lives than
others. But self-righteousness is a dangerous trap.
Paul puts it bluntly:
(1
Corinthians 4:7)
“For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not
receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive
it?”
True
love acknowledges God’s mercy and grace in all things. It is humble, patient,
and kind. Let’s meditate on love’s beauty as Paul describes it:
(1
Corinthians 13:4–8)
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
or rude. It does not insist on its way; it is not irritable or resentful;
it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all
things.
Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they
will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.”
May God grant us this love — a
love so deeply rooted in truth that we never compromise, and so rich in
compassion that it moves us to weep for the lost.
Let us hold fast to this
calling:
(Jude
1:21)
“Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus
Christ that leads to eternal life.”
May the love of Christ silence
every doubt, soften every hard heart, and cause us to remember — always — the
price paid at Calvary: His broken body, His shed blood, all for us.
Bless
His glorious name.
Yes,
I say — BLESS HIM!
Amen.
Signing
off,
Tyrone
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