Discovery: Verses 1-3 really stood out to me this week in my sermon prep. The "If I" versus "I am" contrast that runs throughout this section was very interesting to notice but challenging to apply. These are the instances of the "If I" statements are:
v. 1 "If I speak in tongues of mean or of angels"
v. 2"If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge"
v. 2 "If I have a faith that can move mountains"
v. 3 "If I give all I possess to the poor and [if I] give over my body to hardship that I may boast..."
"but have not love" (v.1) or "but do not have love" (v. 2 and 3)
v. 1 "I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal..."
v. 2 "I am nothing..."
v. 3 "I gain nothing..."
Clearly, it doesn't really matter what we can do, say, or accomplish. Love is preeminent. Without it, nothing else really matters.
Application: I shared this past Sunday the illustration from Al Pacino's halftime speech in the movie "Any Given Sunday." He talked about how football and life was a game of inches. The goal in both is to "fight" for every inch. When I apply this to my life, especially in the context of loving God and others, I have to admit that I don't fight to love God or others with this sort of tenacity. I can be very tenacious when it comes to trouble-shooting my computer or other things. I can also be tenacious when it comes to correcting a misunderstanding or conflict with someone. I know I can be tenacious in certain areas of life because I see the evidence of it. But when it comes to loving God and others, I find myself sorely lacking. I am much better at coming up with reasons (i.e. excuses) to why I can't do something versus why I should do it. My weakness boils down to my own selfishness and apathy.
Recently, I was challenged in my quiet times to think seriously about the focus and nature of my job. The very definition of pastor seems to run the full spectrum from a care-taker/shepherd to a leader/visionary. I am not going to even attempt to discuss this whole issue right now but in light of this Sunday's passage, I am challenged to think about my daily attitude and actions. I want to be a pastor (and a person) who is tenacious in "fighting" for the things that matter. In this case, I simply want to focus on loving the people that God has put before me. I want to make sure that this is the motivation and heart behind what I do as a pastor each and everyday.
Prayer: Help me be tenacious for the things that matter to you Lord. Specifically, lead me this week to take practical steps to love the people that you put on my mind and heart.
