Keeping the Proper Perspective

"But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away," 1 Corinthians 13:10.

Now, we are toward the end of Chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians, and we understand that Paul has gently scolded the Corinthians for immature behavior. They had compared spiritual gifts, which only had produced strife, contention, and division. The Corinthian church had forgotten to seek God's will and had embraced worldly wisdom. This had caused confusion and disorganization.

In their youthful state, the Christians in Corinth rated a person's value to the church by that person's gifts. The Lord spoke to them, as He speaks to you and me, utilizing Paul's pen. He is telling us that we clamor over things that are only temporal. He tells us that love is greater than all things combined. He exhorts us to put the temporal in the proper perspective, and He reminds us that we would be much wiser to put our energy into something that is not fleeting, but will contribute to our heavenly existence.

The Lord promises that death will be swallowed up in victory. In the same way, the partial will be swallowed up in perfection.

Ephesians 4:11-15, "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head --Christ."

Lord, help me to focus upon you, the Giver of all good gifts. Help me to walk in the Spirit, and not according to my flesh. Above all, teach me to love. Amen.