What does 1 Corinthians 13:3 say about giving everything to the poor or giving your body to be burned without love?
First Corinthians 13:3 teaches that even if a person bestows all his goods to feed the poor, or gives his body to be burned as a complete sacrifice, without love it is all for nothing. Such actions must be based on God-centered agape love, which only the true believer can truly exercise.
Les explains that verse 3 asks how anybody could do anything better than giving all their goods to feed the poor. Yet even if someone gives their body to be burned as a complete sacrifice in service to God, if that person has not love, it is all for nothing. Everything we say, think, and do regarding our family, wife, neighbors, or business partners must be based on this premise of love. This love is not the erotic love Hollywood promotes; it is agape love that is God-centered. Only the true believer can really have and exercise this kind of love, while the unsaved world cannot comprehend it. Paul says this love is out there for us to latch on to. Verse 4 then begins explaining love's attributes: love suffers long, is kind, does not envy or covet, does not vaunt itself or become arrogant and puffed up, does not behave unseemly, never seeks her own, and is not easily provoked.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
More Questions
What does it profit if I give all my goods to feed the poor but have not love?
Even if a person gives all their goods to feed the poor or gives their body to be burned as a sacrifice for God, without love it is all for nothing.