WHEN PERFECTION COMES

Introduction

Over the past three weeks we have looked at chapter 13 of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians. Our main conclusion from verses 1-3 was that everything we do should be motivated by love for God and for others. In verses 4-7, we looked at a definition for love. Jesus (God) fulfills this definition perfectly, but when we examine ourselves in the light of this Scripture, it's easy to see that we fall short. As we discussed last week, the solution to our “love problem” is to draw closer to God.

ccc This week we will have a quick look at the last part of 1 Corinthians chapter 13. The goal for this devotion will be to extract the basic meaning of these verses. Then, over the next two weeks, we will look at (1) a brief history of how God has interacted with His people throughout time and (2) how the certainty of Jesus' Return should affect the way we live our lives.

1 Corinthians 13:8-13: (8) Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. (9) For we know in part and we prophesy in part, (10) but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. (11) When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. (12) Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (13) And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Verse 8: Spiritual Gifts vs. Love

Recall, from our previous discussions, that the chapter we are investigating (13) is nestled between two chapters (12 and 14) about spiritual gifts. In this chapter, Paul compares spiritual gifts to love. His basic message is that love is superior to spiritual gifts. In verse 8, Paul points out a fundamental difference between spiritual gifts and love. The difference is this: while spiritual gifts are temporary, love is eternal... Or—to put it another way—in contrast to spiritual gifts, love is not something that we will ever outgrow. It will never become obsolete.

Verses 9-12: Why Spiritual Gifts are Temporary

Verse 10 of this week's text says, “when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.” In other words, spiritual gifts are imperfect. How are they imperfect? Paul answers this question by saying that “we know in part and we prophesy in part.” Right now, in spite of the spiritual gifts that God gives us, we cannot completely know Him. Our ability to use the spiritual gifts that God gives us is imperfect. Remember that the reason God has given us spiritual gifts is so we can build up the church. At the present time, those of us in the church must “live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). So we encourage and help one another as we wait for the day of Jesus' return—when our faith will be sight. Spiritual gifts are useful only as long as we are on this earth, waiting for Christ's return. Then, “when perfection comes,” the imperfect spiritual gifts will no longer be needed.

ccc Verse 11 is an analogy in which Paul relates our earthly lives to childhood. During our earthly lives we are like children. We talk like children; We think like children; We reason like children. But when Jesus returns (or whenever we finally get to see Him), we will be like adults, putting childish ways—like spiritual gifts—behind us. Spiritual gifts bring us closer to God and help us to bring others closer to God. When we finally meet God, spiritual gifts will be unnecessary. They will become obsolete.

ccc In verse 12 Paul uses another analogy. He says, “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” What Paul is saying is that there is a limit to how well we can “see” and “know” God during our earthly lives. When we read the Bible, we get a glimpse of who God is and what He has done for us. From the Bible we get the information we need to know that God is good, that He loves us, and that He offers eternal life to all those who turn to Him in faith. For now, we must be satisfied with a glimpse of God. But God doesn't have to wait to know us. Already He knows everything there is to know about each one of us. And when we finally see Him face-to-face, we will know Him fully in the same way that He knows each one of us right now. This is how the apostle John puts it (1 John 3:2): “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he [Jesus] appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is...”

Homework

This week, I encourage you to read the entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 13 and meditate on some of the things we've discussed over the past several weeks. Or—better yet—read chapters 12-14 so you can get the full context. I would also encourage you to use these three chapters as a starting point for prayer. For example, you can pray that God would help you to be motivated by love and to love Him and others more. In 1 Corinthians 12:31 and 14:1, Paul says that we should “eagerly desire spiritual gifts.” Why not take this opportunity to seek spiritual gifts from God through prayer? After all, in Luke 11:13, Jesus says, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”