Paul’s urgency for the Corinthians to understand the Holy Spirit, was based upon his deeper desire for them to understand their relationship with God. The main problem this church was having seemed to center around a personal desire to “Excel” at Christianity. All through the book, Paul has coached this church toward unity and toward selflessness. Their spiritual identity, their daily walks, their understanding of the body and of spiritual gifts seemed slanted toward competition and self-recognition.
Paul wanted this thriving young church to set all personal aspiration aside and strive for glorifying God. So, when Paul talked about the greatest gifts of Faith, Hope, and Love, he was driving the Corinthians back to being led by God and not by their desire to be good at Christianity.
Paul enumerated the Characteristics of love. If one takes the time to meditate on those characteristics, they will see the striking similarity to the fruit of the spirit. Love is a gift that is the embodiment of the fruit of God’s Spirit. God showed the greatest love possible. He gave us the ability to love.
When we understand that as we love God, we embody His characteristics; then we can see the fruit of Love and of His Spirit. When those things are not present in our lives, we need to first check the source—Who are we following? If we are following the Lord, Love will be apparent. The fruit of God’s Spirit will be apparent. Selflessness will be apparent.
Love, Hope and Faith will rule our lives as God rules our lives. When those qualities seem distant, we can be sure that God is also distant. We must seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all the rest will be added. (Matthew 6:33)
God Bless You
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[b] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Galatians 5
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
Walking With God 