In reading 1 Corinthians 13:1, it says, “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” (NLT)
Love is more important than all the spiritual gifts exercised in the church body. Great faith, acts of dedication or sacrifice, and miracle-working power produce very little without love. Love makes my actions and gifts useful.
Great communication starts with love. Whoever I’m going to have a conversation with I need to look at them with eyes of love.
“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1 NLT).
Words without love are just noise. If I don’t speak in love, it doesn’t matter what the conversation is about or how eloquent I am. I will have wasted my breath.
To communicate love in a conversation I start by communicating love with my eyes, the way I look at somebody. My eyes are powerful tools for showing love. So start my conversations with them. Use my eyes to give people my attention, because attention is love. When I pay attention to people, I’m saying I love them. If I don’t give them my attention, I’ll never have a productive conversation or build stronger relationships.
Jesus modeled this. When a young man came to him one day with a question, here’s how he responded: “Jesus felt genuine love for this man as he looked at him” (Mark 10:21 TLB).
Jesus looked, and he loved.
In summary, if I speak all languages but don’t love, it’s only noise. What I’m learning is that love is more important than all the spiritual gifts exercised in the church body. Great faith, acts of dedication or sacrifice, and miracle-working power produce very little without love. Love makes my actions and gifts useful. So great communication starts with love. When I have a conversation with someone, I need to look at them with eyes of love. Using my eyes to give people my attention, shows love. When I pay attention, I’m saying I love them. Jesus modeled this. Jesus looked, and he loved. I should too.
Father, thank you for this reminder to look at those I’m conversing with in order to show my attention and love. With the help of the Holy Spirit I ask for him to remind me of this in conversations. I also ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership and my interaction with others. I ask this through your Son Jesus’ name, amen.
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