Ben Fourie

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels …” 1 Corinthians 13:1 (NIV)

With this flowing metre Paul started this poem about the most important aspect of Christian life. Love! One should really read this whole chapter out aloud to fully appreciate the message as conveyed by the exceptional rhythm.

At the celebrations in Bloemfontein to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the translation of the Bible in Afrikaans, a certain professor delivered the key note address of the evening. When his curriculum vitae was read, it wat noted that during his academic days at the university, he was notorious for giving a zero mark to work that he deemed of low quality.  One particular day a student handed in a dissertation that was so bad that he summoned him and told him that a zero was far too good for this poor quality work. In the end the professor gave him a “nothing” as the lowest possible mark he could think of.

Every time that I read 1 Corinthians 13, I think of this anecdote because Paul wrote in verse 2 that even if I were the best preacher, can fathom all knowledge and have mountain moving faith, without love I am nothing.

How terrible to be worth less than a zero.

For this reason when Jesus talks about the greatest commandment he says: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength … Love your neighbour as yourself.” If the whole Bible consisted of only these words it would have been enough.

All our arguments about theological ideas, dogma and who is right and who is wrong will in the end come under the magnifying-glass of love. Nothing more and nothing less.

Prayer: Dear Lord I have to confess that my dissertation on love also merits no more than a “nothing”. Thank you for loving me so much that despite my poor marks you have given me eternal life. Amen