“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 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. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.” Those inspired words lay the foundation for one of the greatest chapters in Scripture—First Corinthians 13.
Paul’s discourse begins by explaining what we are not if we lack love. Purposely exaggerating, Paul demonstrates that if we do marvelous things, obtain sublime knowledge, and make tremendous sacrifices yet miss out on godly love, we have missed out on everything. Despite our works, we do nothing. Despite our knowledge, we know nothing. Despite our giving, we receive nothing. This is why love is “the more excellent way.”