1 Corinthians 13:8 (NKJV)

Bible Commentary

1 Corinthians 13:8 is from one of the most popular chapters in the Bible, the “Love” chapter.

It’s very interesting because it starts off talking about love and that it never fails, which is a great comfort and truth. But the next few statements are a bit perplexing because it talks about things that will fail, important things.

These important things are spiritual gifts: prophecies, speaking in tongues, knowledge. Maybe it’s a bit disturbing as we read these things that will fail because we have some or all of these particular gifts.

Here is a more comprehensive list of gifts that can fail.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. ² And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

The gift on the list above that hits home the most for me is “faith.” I prayed very early in my spiritual walk with Christ that I would have great faith. The Lord has been faithful in developing this gift within me. However, recently He has revealed to me that sometimes I rely more on my gift than on Him.

The gift of great faith is from Him, but it’s not Him. If I’m trusting in anything other than God, then it is an idol and a snare to me and most likely a burden to those around me.

We can get so caught up in operating in our spiritual gifts, particularly over a long period of time and especially if we have respect from others because of that gift, that we lose sight of what’s real. We can become like our father, the devil who wanted to make himself like God. That’s very dangerous territory.

Jesus said in John 8:43-44,

Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. ⁴⁴ You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. 

Personal Testimony

The Lord has gifted me as He has with so many others, with the ability to hear His voice by the Holy Spirit. In recent weeks, I have been in a position financially and vocationally that has required a great faith. Even though I have faith big enough to choose to be in this position, there are times I have greatly struggled with fear and doubt.

As I sought the Lord about this, He began to reveal to me the reason my fears and doubts are louder than my faith. It is because I have been relying on my gift of hearing His voice and my gift of faith, instead of relying on Him.

If I’m certain He has called me to be in this particular situation, then I should have peace and fear should not be tormenting me. But wait, what if I’m wrong and I didn’t hear Him like I thought. There is no firm foundation in my “ability to hear Him.”

There is only one firm foundation and that is the Rock, Jesus Christ. Not my ability to hear Him, and not my faith. Only Him.

I was liberated when I surrendered my gift that had turned into an idol. I choose to trust God, not my gifts. Now, the thought of “what if I didn’t hear God correctly” isn’t oppressing me. Even if I didn’t hear Him right and I’ve gotten myself into a mess, God will deliver me. God along with my faith is where freedom is, and that’s where success is.

Love never fails, the first and most important part of today’s verse. My faith alone won’t deliver me, or any other spiritual gift. God has to be in it. A successful recipe has to include God (love) along with the gift.

No matter how significant the gift, it is nothing if God isn’t in it, which can be a subtle and deceitful evolution over time. That’s how we fall into the enemy’s traps. What started off as a gift and a blessing evolved into an idol because of our fleshly pride and we weren’t even aware of it.

Lord, please reveal the truth of where in our lives we have become trapped because of a gift that has turned into an idol. We give back the gifts You so freely gave to us, so that Your Name will be glorified, not ours. By Your mercy, liberate us from the dark and oppressive traps of the enemy. We choose to trust You alone, God. Set us free in Jesus’ Name. Amen.