1 Corinthians 13 and doing this ministry in love … also how to be personal with a “dry” question

I’ve been reflecting on 1 Corinthians 13 in light of what we do here. I paraphrased it a bit, and I hope it is an encouragement to you: If I write in the language of men and angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the greatest spiritual insight and can fathom and impart to those who are searching for spiritual truth all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can match all God has in store for me and our ministry, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give countless hours writing to the poor in spirit and guide them into all truth with my pen, and give my time in sacrifice to all other endeavors that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

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You, MeLissa LeFleur Houdmann, Ed Chait, Lincoln Bostick and 9 others like this.
Christopher Dupre Truly, it is my prayer that those who read our answers receive blessing upon blessing above what we as writers do, but I can’t imagine that is ever the case.

November 11 at 1:10pm · Unlike · 3
Ed Chait It is an encouragement, thank you Christopher.

November 11 at 1:32pm · Like
Laurel J. Davis Thank you, Christopher.

November 11 at 1:47pm · Like
Marilyn Mcclintock Amen. Thanks.

November 11 at 6:48pm · Like
Dawn James It’s funny ’cause my pastor is going thru 1 Cor. (he’s in 15 now), and the words are still fresh in my mind! Really cool when the Lord reinforces a message from multiple sources!

November 11 at 7:47pm · Like · 3
Ed Chait I’ve pondered this topic. Some questions are more personal in nature and more easily lend themselves to a personal and loving answer, but what about questions that aren’t personal? In addition to praying for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and providing a Biblically sound answer, in what other ways can we provide a loving answer to a “dry” general question?

November 11 at 9:20pm · Edited · Like · 1
Christopher Dupre That’s a great point, Ed. I guess other than working in the plan of salvation, sometimes there’s not much to do. I think I was mostly being introspective, wanting to ensure I was approaching this ministry with the right heart. Sometimes being theolo…See More

November 11 at 9:44pm · Like · 3
Jed Kramer Ending a response with some sort of personal exhortation might fit the bill…along the lines of how Paul concluded his letters. (Edit: I think the ‘praying for guidance from the Holy Spirit’ is really the key … and a mind and heart of love toward the questioner.)

November 11 at 10:22pm · Edited · Like · 3
Ed Chait Providing a Biblical answer to a question is in and of itself a loving thing, and asking for and following the guidance from the Holy Spirit is the key to writing a loving answer. Just sorting some thoughts.

Yesterday at 1:55am · Like · 2
Ed Chait I very much appreciate your introspective application of this verse also Christopher. It needs to be on the inside so it can go out to others.

16 hrs · Like
Tim White Answer the question as if it came from a grandchild or child. Hearing my grandpaw tell about how the hay baler worked dripped with love.

3 hrs · Like · 1
Tim White 1Co_4:14 I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.