The More Excellent Way: Why Love Must Drive Our Spiritual Gifts

Have you ever had someone try to show you a "better way" to do something? Like drawing a star—some start from the top, others from the bottom, and in the end, we all get the same result. But what if someone offered you not just a more efficient way to live, but a more excellent way?

At the end of 1 Corinthians 12, after discussing spiritual gifts in detail, Paul makes a profound statement: "I will show you a still more excellent way." This isn't just a suggestion or a minor improvement—it's something far superior.

What Does "More Excellent" Really Mean?

The phrase Paul uses literally means "extraordinary degree." The imagery is of taking an object and throwing it as far as humanly possible. He uses this same expression elsewhere to describe things that are "beyond all comparison" or of "immeasurable greatness."

When Paul says he's showing us a more excellent way, he's telling us our lives can be thrown immeasurably farther—can have vastly greater impact—if we embrace what he's about to share.

Paul systematically takes each gift and declares it worthless without love:

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing."

His message is clear: You can possess the most sought-after spiritual gifts, operate in special knowledge, demonstrate great faith, or show extreme generosity—but without love, you are worthless. You're just noise, like a cymbal crashing off-beat with no purpose.

Is It Gifts OR Love, or Gifts AND Love?

Toddlers often struggle with the concept of "and/or" choices. When asked, "Do you want to go to the park or the pool?" they'll answer "Yes!" because they want both options.

Similarly, many Christians get confused about gifts and love. Some think they can operate in spiritual gifts without loving people. Others think they can just love people and ignore the gifts.

But Paul isn't presenting an either/or scenario. It's not gifts OR love—it's gifts AND love. Love must be the driving force behind every spiritual gift. Without love, the gifts are worthless. But without gifts, our love can become shallow, just a feeling without action.

The more excellent way is love-motivated gifts.

What Does Real Love Look Like?

Paul doesn't leave us guessing about what love means. In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, he gives us one of the most beautiful descriptions of love ever written:

"Love is patient and kind. Love does not envy or boast. It is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way. It is not irritable or resentful. It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

These aren't just poetic words—they're a mirror for self-examination. If you replaced the word "love" with your name, would these statements be true about you?

When Your Light Goes Out Without You Knowing

One of the most terrifying realities is that God, in His mercy, may allow us to operate in spiritual gifts for a long time without love. We might be "doing everything right" while our love for God and others has completely disappeared—and we may not even realize it.

In Revelation 2:2-5, God addresses the church in Ephesus:

"I know all the things you do. I've seen your hard work, your patient endurance... But I have this complaint against you. You don't love me or each other as you did at first. If you don't repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches."

This church was doing everything right—they hated sin, operated in spiritual gifts, and were probably the envy of surrounding churches. But their love was gone. Their light had gone out, and God warned that if they didn't repent, He would remove their lampstand completely.

Life Application

How is your light today? How is your passion for God? It may look different than it did years ago, but do you truly love Him? Are you passionate for His presence? Do you love people—the lost, your church family, your neighbors, your own family?

This week, take time to examine your heart by asking yourself these questions:

 Am I operating in spiritual gifts without genuine love for God and others?

If I replaced "love" with my name in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, would it be true?

Has my passion for God's presence diminished while I've been "doing everything right"?

What practical step can I take this week to rekindle my love for God and others?

The challenge is simple but profound: Don't just seek spiritual gifts—grow in love. Let love be the motivation behind everything you do. Because without love, even the most impressive spiritual gifts are just noise.