Oct 12 2019 I Corinthians 12:27 – 13:3

If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Paul continues his explanation of God made manifest in the Spirit-filled gifts given to each of us - preaching, teaching, prophesying. These little humanized bits of the Holy Spirit enable us to do something – we take those skills and talents and become apostles – people who go out and tell God’s good news, prophets, teachers, healers. So first we get the spirit made manifest in ability to write, for example. Second we use the skill as a writer. All is good so far.

But then he puts the caveat on it all. He says that if you use your skills in your vocation but do not have love, it’s all for naught. If you speak able to sway mortals and angels, but don’t have love, you’re a noisy gong. If you have prophetic powers, are super smart, and even the ultimate faith in God, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I try to do good, giving away all my belongings, if I martyr myself for a good cause, but I don’t have love, that is also nothing.

It’s not enough that we have the Sprit-made-manifest gifts. It’s not enough that we use them. If we do not use them with and for love, it’s all wasted.

I sort of understand this in my life. I have certain skills. I’m able to use them in my work, both paid and familial. If I don’t use the skills rooted in the love of God, I can easily get derailed. I lose sight of why. On part of my job is to help people in the process towards ordination. It’s a complicated, seemingly bureaucratic time intensive process. I fully believe that all of the components are there for a reason, and I try to help folks navigate with limited bumps and detours. And on good days, I do it with love and for love. But when anyone in positions of control or power, even in administrative processes like this, when anyone in a position like that does their work without love as the source and purpose, it’s apparent.

I wonder about people who don’t believe in God, or have a very tenuous connection. They still have God-made-manifest gifts. They still do good deeds. But if they don’t do it for God’s love, does that mean they are a noisy gong? I’m going to argue, that no. If they are doing love’s work, even if they don’t name it God, they’re doing God’s work.

This morning, I’m thinking about all of the things I do in a day – write memos, make lunch and dinner, arrange meetings, prepare reports, take care of others. I do these things with the Spirit-made-manifest sills I’ve ben given. God is infused in my every action, throughout my day. So my body is fully connected to God, as I move through my world, by virtue of what I say, and do, and feel and believe. All of that is Spirit made manifest. What’s missing, without some effort on my part, is the intention to do it for Love. It’s not enough to know it’s God given gifts, or even to do it for an altruistic purpose. My actions, all my actions and thoughts need to be rooted in Love. There is a prayer in our Book of Common Prayer that many days, we conclude the morning prayer service with. It’s says this better than me.

Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.