When Good Things Get in the Way of the Greatest Thing

Have you ever found that your life is full of good things—successful projects, spiritual activities, or personal achievements—yet you still feel a profound sense of emptiness? In this sermon, Pastor Josh explored the "climax" of 1 Corinthians, challenging us to look past the "good" to ensure we aren't missing the greatest thing of all: Love.

Beyond the Wedding Aisle: The Real Context of Love

While 1 Corinthians 13 is a staple at weddings, Pastor Josh reminded us that it was originally written to a "buzzing," thriving, but deeply divided church. The Corinthians were "spectacular" at spiritual gifts like tongues and prophecy, yet they were using these gifts to create a sense of superiority and division.

Pastor Josh noted that the greatest enemy of the "best" is often not the "bad," but the "good". When we prioritize our spiritual unique gifts or ministries over the people they are meant to serve, we become "nothing" in the eyes of God.

"Truth will not change you; the truth that is applied will change you."

The Trap of "Successful" Ministry

Pastor Josh shared a vulnerable story about his own journey as a preacher. He recalled being invited to a large conference in Canada, where he spoke to over 1,000 young people who cheered and cried during his sermon. It was an "addictive" experience that made him feel like a "somebody".

However, upon returning home, he felt a crushing emptiness. He realized he could spend his entire life being an eloquent, famous preacher without actually loving the people he was speaking to. He realized that:

• Charisma is not the Spirit: The possession of spiritual gifts is not the ultimate sign of the Holy Spirit; Christian love is.
• The "Job" of Preaching: Even an atheist could technically do a pastor’s job on a Sunday by being smart and eloquent, but without love, that eloquence is just manipulation.
• The Clanging Cymbal: Doing "great things" for God without love makes us nothing more than a "noisy gong".

What Love Is: The Power of Patience and Kindness

Pastor Josh emphasized that we often have "misinformation" about love, seeing it only as an emotion or a romantic feeling. Biblical love, however, is defined by specific actions:

1. Love is Patient

Patience isn't just waiting; it is "staying still under pressure". It is the willingness to spend "uncomfortable, painful, and boring moments" in a relationship without trying to force a fix. Pastor Josh pointed to God as the ultimate example, who is patient with us for hundreds and thousands of years, giving us "time to repent".

2. Love is Kind (Controlled Power)

Pastor Josh defined kindness as "gentleness" or "controlled power". He shared the example of wrestling with his young son. Even though he is much stronger, he lets his son win because he chooses to be gentle to bring the child joy. In the church, this means those with power—whether through wealth or status—must submit that power to serve others.

"Position of charisma is not the sign of the spirit. Christian love is."

The "What-Not" of Love: Avoiding Arrogance and Self-Insistence

To truly understand love, we must also look at what it is not. Love does not envy, boast, or act rudely.

• No Comparison: Envy comes from comparison. Pastor Josh admitted he sometimes struggles with "showing off" Heartbeat Church to other pastors, but true love means serving where God has called you without needing to be "better" than others.
• Not Insisting on Your Own Way: This is often where marriages and churches fail. Pastor Josh shared a personal example: he used to hug and kiss his wife, Yoonah, thinking he was being "loving," but she didn't feel loved because he wasn't doing the vacuuming. True love means loving the other person the way they need to receive it, not just the way you want to give it.

The Pain of Exclusion

Pastor Josh shared a heart-wrenching story from his Bible college days. As a shy student who didn't speak English well, he sat in a common room just to be near people. After a while, the group suddenly got up and left together to do something else, without anyone inviting him.

He went home and cried, not because they were "bad" people, but because they didn't have the "preferred vision" to look beyond their own comfort and see someone who was lonely. He challenged the church to ensure that "love is on top," making sure that no one who walks through the door feels ignored.

Loving Out of Weakness: ADHD and Depression

In a deeply personal conclusion, Pastor Josh spoke about his daughter Skye’s recent ADHD diagnosis and his own ongoing battle with depression.

Instead of seeing these as curses, he views them as part of their "uniqueness"—a way God made them to love others in a way only they can. He finds "closure" in the Gospel, noting that when Jesus said "It is done" on the cross, He provided the foundation to face any struggle.

• Love Bears All Things: It doesn't mean life is easy, but it means we never "drop the ball" on each other.
• The Goal of Everything: The "house church" model, the homeless ministry, and Bible studies are all just tools to help us practice this relentless, biblical love.

A Final Call

Pastor Josh urged the congregation not to stop their ministries but to ensure they aren't doing them out of "obligation" or "novelty". Whether you are doing the vacuuming at home or leading a house church, let love be the thing that validates your life.

Analogy for Understanding: Trying to analyze love without practicing it is like dissecting a flower to understand it. In the process of pulling the petals apart to see how it works, you lose the very beauty and life that made the flower wonderful in the first place. Love must be lived, not just studied.