“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” — 1 Corinthians 13:1
Kingdom Currency
As individual members that make up the living body of Christ, known as the Church, we ought to desire God-given abilities and opportunities that help the Church in its efficiency and effectiveness in its purpose for the world. However, no matter what unique ability or opportunity God may gift each of us with personally, we must always use these gifts in a manner that is motivated by the same kind of selfless love that defined the life of Christ. Self-giving love is the currency of God’s Kingdom.
In his first letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul points out that right actions done with the wrong motivation will profit us nothing in the eyes of God (1 Corinthians 13). We must be aware of the trap of being obediently Biblical in our conduct while being obnoxiously un-Christlike in our character. The true value of all Christian virtue is found in the why behind all the what. Why are we obeying what God commands?
Is our obedience to God and the use of our time, treasure and talents motivated by a genuine love for God that manifests itself in a new level of self-giving love for others? How might the world view Christianity if Christians sold their desires to be right or respected, in order to invest their lives in the Kingdom currency of self-giving love? Right actions motivated by the right heart will make us rich in the things that matter.
— Terry Evans, Atlanta Braves chaplain
If you would like to submit a reader devotional, please email all submissions to
devotionals@sportsspectrum.com.
