"Go On Walking in Love" -Conclusion of Why Love Is Essential

What if love is lacking in us?  "If I . . . do not have love," said the apostle Paul, "I have become a sounding piece of brass or a clashing cymbal." (1 Corinthians 13:1) A clashing cymbal produces a harsh noise. What about a sounding piece of brass?  Other versions say "a noisy gong" or "a resounding gong."  What apt illustrations! A loveless person is like a musical instrument making a loud, jarring noise that repels rather than attracts.  How could such a person enjoy a close relationship with others?  Paul also said: "If I have all the faith so as to transplant mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing."  (1 Corinthians 13:2) Just imagine, a person without love is "a useless nobody," despite any works that he might perform!  (The Amplified Bible)  Is it not clear that Jehovah's Word places a high value on showing love?

How, though,, can we display this quality in our dealings with others?  To answer that, let us examine Paul's words found at 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.  The emphasis in these verses is neither God''s love for us nor on our love for God. Rather, Paul focused on how we should show love to one another. He described certain things that love is and certain things that it is not.

Next time: "Go On Walking in Love"-What Love Is

From the book: Draw Close to Jehovah