Nothing
The word nothing can be defined as no thing, not anything, no part, no portion, of no consequence, significance, or interest. Nothing would appear to be the opposite of something, but it is actually the opposite of everything, which can mean all relevant matters or the most important.
The need to be relevant
All of us want to matter or be relevant. None of us want to be or become nothing, and yet many choose to be just that. To be relevant in this sin-filled world, we don’t need to be selfish, pride-filled, and unforgiving. To be relevant is to behave in a different way when opportunities for charity, forgiveness, and love arise. These aren’t situations we should run from. These are situations we should run toward and passionately!
Who doesn’t want to receive some form of charity from another? Who doesn’t require forgiveness? Who doesn’t need love? We all do, and often!
What Love looks like
1 Corinthians 13 is filled with examples of what love looks like and doesn’t look like. In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul speaks of the various gifts of the Holy Spirit. Some mentioned are wisdom, knowledge, gifts of healing, and others. Paul mentions these gifts are powerful and in 1 Corinthians 13, Paul says that even though we all may not possess those same talents and to the same degree, we do have access to impact as they do through one thing, love. 1 Corinthians 13:2 ends, if I don’t have love, I am nothing.
Think about that for a few moments. We can have all kinds of skills, gifts, and abilities. However, if we lack love, we lack everything. 1 Corinthians 13 is just 13 verses that ring so true and powerful when understood. Read over these verses below. Remember these verses. Most importantly, do as these verses say.
Be relevant, be most important, and matter. Love.
Love God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. Also, love others as you love yourself. Love!
Scripture References
1 Corinthians 13
The Excellence of Love
1 If I speak with the tongues of mankind and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
3 And if I give away all my possessions to charity, and if I surrender my body so that I may glory, but do not have love, it does me no good.
4 Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant.
5 It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered,
6 it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
7 it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with.
9 For we know in part and prophesy in part;
10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away with.
11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known.
13 But now faith, hope, and love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
For additional questions or to schedule a complimentary coaching session on how you and your team can lead a more loving life and transform for a balanced, happier and impactful experience, please email coach@maximizeu.life