Camp Cocoon
Our weekend bereavement camp for kids will be held Aug. 1-3, 2025, in beautiful Tallulah Falls, Ga. Applications are now being accepted for campers and adult volunteers.
The Greatest of these is Love
By Chaplain Dr. Dave Lescalleet
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away…And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
- I Cor. 13:1-8, v13
This passage in I Corinthians 13 is a very popular passage and is often interpreted as putting into words what one person is to feel for another. But there is more going on in this passage than describing an eros love (passionate love) for a betrothed. St. Paul is also writing about a deeper agape love we are to have for our fellow man.
Paul’s letter to the ancient Christians living in Corinth is describing a people that possessed a great many gifts. But Paul points out that as wonderful as these gifts and talents are, there is something much more important: love.
In other words, when Paul describes love, he is describing all the things that the Corinthians were NOT doing. Very simply Paul is writing to the Corinthians and saying: You know you are the most talented group of people I know, and yet when it comes to loving others you are awful! Your accomplishments are great! But your love stinks! Your giftedness is great, but your character isn’t much to write home about. The Corinthians were valuing only the external (professional success, wealth, education, etc.). They placed importance on gifting rather than love.
But as Paul writes, that kind of thinking is completely backwards. It is your love for fellow man that is of paramount importance.
Much like the Corinthians of the 1st century, most of our emphasis today, in our own century, is on being professional and productive—while neglecting real love to others. Much like the Corinthians of old, we too are people that in our professions we can perform in an excellent fashion, but our relationships are a mess. We are not those who are always known for our love.
But Paul looks right into our professional/productive culture and gets right to the heart and says to us: It doesn't matter how rich you are, It doesn't matter how successful you are, It doesn't matter how talented you are—unless you have love for your fellow man, you are missing the mark.
On this Valentine’s Day, let us be marked by Agape love—love for mankind.
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