This passage has been preached on many times but scripture is a living document with the Spirit revealing new insights each and every time with new and deep truths. What more vital emphasis can be placed on Love, the principal of keeping all of the commandments! A fundamental requirement. Not in a superficial sense as God demands it in the whole of our living. We are both rebuked and encouraged.

Vein piety as it applies to you and me applies to this chapter. Paul has a burden (verse 11) about contentions among the people of God in Corinth. There were divisions in the body of the Lord that included more than just the subject of baptism. Paul approaches the contentious spirit as it relates to the building up of the body among its diversities. He shows them a more excellent way. At least 12 personal pronouns in this passage to show us we are the subjects of many things that we do. I do all these things and the question is why do I do that?! Paul says lets put the "I" away to build and benefit the whole, asking what is the root and motivation of it?

He says if Love is NOT there I am nothing! We don't get caught up in the diverse gifts but put ourselves right in front of the question....when we do what we do, is the LOVE of God in our heart which should be the ONLY motivation in ALL that we do?! Why? Because I am a christian who is dead to sin and alive in Christ to love with the love of God in my heart and soul. Without it you have NO profit. You can be the best teacher, husband, wife, and whatever you are good at BUT if it is not motivated in love you have NOTHING! That is why every relationship with the world is one sided love, always being rooted in our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus asked Peter (who had lied 3 times) "Peter do you LOVE me?" Implying He loved him to the depth of the cross but did what he did out of his own selfish wellbeing, commanding Peter further to feed His sheep out of Love, that DEEP, SPIRITUAL BOND...the bond of perfectness that starts in God's perfectness first of all as He took us into that bond in the cross. Such a strong bond! Think of chemical bonds that when you separate you have a nuclear fusion- an explosion! And that strong bond is never selfish or self seeking and God always loves you with that bond of affection that seeks our good even into glory!!!