The Priority of Love: Why Love Must Come First

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” —I Corinthians 13:1 (NIV)

The Sound of An Empty Heart

Have you ever heard the sound of a loud, clanging cymbal? It’s sharp, distracting, and impossible to ignore. It demands attention but lacks melody. In 1 Corinthians 13:1, Paul warns us that even the most eloquent words, the most passionate expressions, and the greatest spiritual gifts mean nothing if they are not rooted in love. Without love, our words and actions become noise—empty, ineffective, and void of the power to transform.

Love is the Greatest Gift

In a world that celebrates talent, knowledge, and influence, it’s easy to believe that what we do matters more than how we love. We chase accomplishments, accumulate wisdom, and strive for recognition. But Paul reminds us that without love, even the most impressive deeds lose their value.

Think about it—how many times have we been impressed by someone’s ability to speak or lead, yet left untouched because their words lacked love? The greatest sermons, the most profound advice, and the most powerful prayers mean nothing if they do not come from a place of genuine love. Love is the true measure of our spiritual maturity.

God's Standard of Love

God does not measure us by our gifts, talents, or knowledge—He measures us by our love. Jesus Himself declared that the greatest commandment is to love God and to love others (Matthew 22:37-39). Love is not just an emotion or a feeling; it is a decision to act in kindness, patience, and selflessness.

When love is absent, relationships crumble, ministries become ineffective, and even our acts of service become self-serving. But when love is the foundation, everything we do carries eternal value.

Living A Life Where Love Comes First

So how do we prioritize love in our daily lives?

1. Check Your Motives: Before you speak or act, ask yourself, "Am I doing this out of love?"

2. Choose Love Over Being Right: This is a tough one for many of us, but sometimes it's more important to love than to prove a point.

3. Serve with Love: Don't just do good things—do them with a heart of love.

4. Pray for a Heart Like Jesus: Ask God to help you love others the way He loves them. Jesus said, "By this everyone will know you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35)

Reflection Question

Am I more focused on what I do than how I love? How can I shift my priorities to make love my foundation?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, teach me to love as You love. Help me to see that without love, all my words and actions lose their meaning. Fill my heart with Your love so that everything I do reflects Your goodness. Let my life be a melody of love, not just noise. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Love must be the priority—not just in what we say, but in how we live. Let’s commit today to making love the foundation of all we do.