Love is essential for communicating difficult truths effectively.
Les Feldick teaches that the love chapter (1 Corinthians 13) is placed between chapters dealing with controversial issues to show that truth must be presented with patience and understanding. Without love, communication becomes like clanging cymbals, and truth can be lost in anger or offense. Love is the foundation that keeps the message clear and the listener open.
1 Corinthians 13:1 — This verse directly addresses the question by stating that even speaking with angelic tongues without love is meaningless noise.
The Bible, specifically in 1 Corinthians 13, emphasizes the supremacy of love. Verse 1 states, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal." This indicates that without love, even the most eloquent speech is empty. The chapter goes on to describe love's attributes, such as patience and kindness, and concludes that love is the greatest of all gifts (1 Corinthians 13:13).
Les Feldick explains that Paul intentionally placed the love chapter (1 Corinthians 13) between two chapters full of controversial issues (chapters 12 and 14) to set the right tone. He stresses that the only way to handle disagreements and present difficult truths is with love, patience, and understanding. Les emphasizes that we should not approach others with anger or sarcasm but humbly and gently, as he advises when pointing out spiritual truths. He also notes that love is the foundation of the Christian faith, prompting Christ to go to the cross, and should be the predominating factor in our interactions.
Les Feldick teaches that love is greater than prophecy, tongues, or even faith to move mountains. He states that without love, it is impossible to please God. This means that even the most impressive spiritual abilities are worthless if not exercised in love.
Les advises approaching disagreements with humility and grace, not with pride or sarcasm. He suggests pointing out what Scripture says, but doing so in a loving manner, respecting the other person's freedom to disagree. He emphasizes that we can have differences of opinion without being heretics.
Love as the Antidote to Anger
Les explains that Paul wrote the love chapter to prevent a belligerent attitude when addressing the Corinthians' problems.
Love is the Greatest
Les emphasizes that without love, pleasing God is impossible, making love greater than faith or other gifts.
Love in Handling Problems
Les repeats that the only way to bring people to truth is in the spirit of love, not by slapping them with anger or ridiculing them.
Why God Chooses the Weak: Lessons from Moses and the Cross
Again, there's nothing basically wrong with that, except that unless the person who is doing that, taking him into his heart, understands that the only reason you can have Christ in your heart is because of what he did on that cross, hey, I'm afraid it's all for nothing.
Handling Controversy with Love
Les states that the only way to handle controversy is on the basis of the love found in 1 Corinthians 13.
What the Bible Really Says About the Lord's Table — 1 Corinthians 10:16
Some don't like it, and we can't help that. But fortunately when I first went on television, this was my biggest fear, was all the hate mail that I'd be getting. And in six years we've only gotten two, and they weren't all that bad. So I have to just count it a real blessing that we're not making people downright nasty. But if you disagree with me, that's your privilege.
Humility in Correction
Les advises approaching others humbly and without pride or sarcasm when pointing out what they are missing in Scripture, showing love and concern.
Love as the Foundation
Les explains that love is the foundation of the Christian faith and should be the predominating factor in all our relationships.
1 Corinthians 13:1: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
Shows that even the most impressive speech is meaningless without love.
1 Corinthians 13:13: And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Reveals that love is the greatest virtue, surpassing faith and hope.
Love is necessary because without it, even truthful correction can cause anger and close the listener's mind. Les teaches that truth must be presented with patience and understanding to be effective.
Yes, Les emphasizes that love is the greatest of faith, hope, and love, and that without love it is impossible to please God (1 Corinthians 13:13).
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Really Says About Love vs Spiritual Gifts