Publication date
7/1/13
Volume
34
Number
13
The WatchTower
The Greatest Thing in the Universe--Part 1
The Watchtower Magazines
../literature/watchtower/1913/13/1913-13-1.html
 
 
VOL. 
XXXIV 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y., 
JULY 
1, 
1913 
No. 
13 
THE 
GREATEST 
THING 
IN 
THE 
UNIVERSE-PART 
I 
"Covet 
earnestly 
the 
best 
gifts: 
and 
yet 
I 
show 
unto 
you 
a 
more 
excellent 
way. 
"-1 
Cor. 
12 
:3l. 
The 
Apostle 
James 
has 
declared 
that 
every 
good 
and 
every 
should 
discern 
and 
seek 
especially 
the 
best 
gift. 
They 
should 
perfect 
gift 
cometh 
down 
from 
the 
.b~ather 
of 
lights, 
with 
whom 
not 
only 
discriminate 
amongst 
these 
gifts 
and 
choose 
the 
best, 
is 
no 
variableness 
or 
shadow 
of 
turning. 
Hence 
every 
gift 
but 
they 
should 
be 
looking 
beyond 
these 
to 
a 
developed 
con- 
from 
God 
would 
be 
a 
blessing. 
Even 
those 
upon 
whom 
God 
dition 
of 
heart 
which 
would 
be 
specially 
pleasing 
to 
the 
Lord, 
will 
execute 
the 
sentence 
of 
the 
second 
death 
may 
be 
said 
to 
and 
would 
bring 
them 
into 
eloser 
relationship 
with 
him. 
receive 
something 
that 
is 
not 
really 
an 
injury 
to 
their 
best 
He 
proceeds 
to 
explain 
that 
this 
is 
love. 
They 
might 
have 
interests. 
the 
gift 
of 
prophesying, 
of 
working 
miracles, 
of 
healing 
the 
In 
thinking 
over 
these 
different 
gifts 
of 
God, 
the 
Apostle 
sick, 
of 
speaking 
with 
tongues, 
of 
interpretation, 
and 
yet 
come 
Paul 
enumerates 
some 
of 
those 
that 
were 
given 
to 
the 
church 
short 
of 
ever 
attaining 
the 
highest 
blessing 
of 
the 
Lon}, 
in 
the 
beginning 
of 
this 
Gospel 
age. 
We 
read 
in 
the 
psalms: 
unless 
they 
should 
incorporate 
into 
their 
lives 
this 
better 
"Thou 
hast 
received 
gifts 
for 
men; 
yea, 
for 
the 
rebellious 
thing-LOVE. 
No 
matter 
how 
well 
able 
they 
might 
be 
to 
also, 
that 
the 
Lord 
God 
might 
dwell 
amongst 
them." 
(Psalm 
speak 
with 
tongues 
or 
to 
interpret 
or 
to 
work 
miracles, 
etc., 
68: 
18) 
Some 
of 
those 
gifts 
were 
given 
to 
the 
men 
who 
became 
this 
love 
was 
a 
far 
more 
important 
thing 
for 
them 
to 
have. 
followers 
of 
the 
Lord 
Jesus. 
After 
Jesus 
had 
ascended, 
all 
Then 
he 
enumerates 
the 
various 
qualities 
of 
love-meekness, 
his 
followers 
were 
to 
particularly 
wait 
until 
he 
would 
send 
patience, 
brotherly 
kindness, 
etc. 
The 
SUIll 
of 
them 
all 
is 
them, 
from 
the 
Father, 
the 
power 
and 
blessing 
of 
the 
holy 
love. 
It 
is 
love 
for 
the 
brethren, 
love 
for 
friends, 
love 
for 
Spirit, 
which 
was 
to 
come 
to 
each 
sincere 
believer, 
and 
which 
neighbors, 
love 
for 
our 
enemies, 
which 
would 
do 
them 
good, 
was 
to 
be 
accompanied 
by 
gifts-by 
some 
outward 
gift 
and 
and 
not 
at 
all 
wish 
to 
sec 
them 
suffer 
injury. 
'rhis, 
then, 
manifestation, 
useful 
and 
to 
be 
used. 
is 
the 
more 
excellent 
thing. 
In 
our 
context 
the 
Apostle 
enumerates 
some 
of 
these 
gifts 
Though 
the 
elements 
of 
love 
are 
developed 
qualities 
and 
-apostles, 
prophets, 
evangelists, 
teachers, 
pastors; 
other~ 
may, 
therefore, 
properly 
lIe 
called 
fruits, 
they 
lIlay 
he 
called 
received 
gifts 
of 
tongues, 
healings, 
power 
to 
perform 
mira- 
gifts 
also. 
From 
the 
apple-tree 
we 
get 
gifts 
of 
apples; 
froll1 
cles, 
power 
to 
cast 
out 
Satan, 
power 
to 
interpret 
tongues, 
power 
the 
peach-tree 
we 
get 
gifts 
of 
peaches; 
from 
the 
pear-tree, 
to 
discern 
spirits. 
Some 
reeeived 
one 
of 
these 
and 
some 
an- 
gifts 
of 
pears, 
etc. 
Since 
,ve 
have 
to 
do 
with 
the 
develop- 
other; 
some 
received 
several. 
St. 
Paul 
had 
various 
gifts, 
and 
ment 
of 
these 
qualities 
of 
the 
Spirit, 
they 
aI',' 
styled 
fwits 
deelared 
that 
he 
spoke 
more 
tongues 
than 
they 
all. 
(1 
Cor. 
of 
the 
Spirit. 
And 
they 
arc 
far 
more 
eX(,plll'llt 
alld 
far 
more 
14:18) 
It 
would 
appear 
that 
the 
early 
church 
thought 
very 
to 
be 
desired 
than 
the 
lIlerdy 
meehanical 
gifts, 
whieh 
at 
the 
highly 
of 
the 
gift 
of 
tongues. 
They 
heeame 
very 
anxious 
to 
first 
eame 
to 
all 
of 
God's 
people, 
beeause 
of 
tlleir 
spceial 
need, 
have 
God 
give 
them 
this 
particular 
gift. 
but 
many 
of 
which 
passed 
away 
shortly 
after 
the 
apostlcs 
dicd. 
But 
the 
Apostle 
tells 
them 
that 
God 
had 
still 
more 
valuable 
LOVE-VARYING 
IN 
KIND 
blessings 
tha~ 
this 
of 
speaking 
wi.th. 
ton~ues, 
whieh 
they 
.so 
The 
question 
naturally 
and 
properly 
arises, 
"What 
is 
love 
i 
earnestlJ: 
desned. 
They 
were 
to 
~IstmgUlsh 
between 
the 
dlf- 
The 
Bible 
answers, 
"God 
is 
love." 
As 
it 
is 
impossible 
to 
ferent 
gIf~s, 
a~d 
t.hey 
w?re 
to 
de.sne, 
were 
to. 
prefer, 
the 
best 
fully 
describe 
God 
in 
his 
greatness, 
so 
it 
seems 
impossible 
-to 
e:,erelse 
dlscnmlllatlOn 
of 
mmd 
as 
to 
whIch 
would 
be 
the 
to 
fully 
deseribe 
all 
that 
would 
be 
comprehended 
in 
the 
word 
?est 
gIft. 
He 
declares 
that 
he 
would 
rather 
sp.eak 
five 
words 
love. 
Love 
is 
the 
most 
powerful 
thing 
in 
the 
world; 
there- 
1Il 
a 
known 
tongue 
than 
to 
~peak 
ten 
thousand 
III 
an 
unknown 
fore 
love 
most 
nearly 
represents 
God, 
beeause 
he 
is 
the 
Su- 
tongue, 
and 
not 
be 
able 
to 
lllterpret. 
He 
told 
them 
that 
they 
preme 
Almicrhty 
One. 
We 
milTht 
say 
that 
God 
is 
not 
this 
not 
should 
pray 
for 
interpretation-that 
they 
should 
not 
only 
that 
~ot 
th~ 
other. 
And 
so 
~vith 
love-we 
micrht 
describe 
it 
?esire 
to 
s~eak 
in 
unknown 
tongues,. 
but 
.also 
desire 
to 
give 
the 
hy 
;aying 
what 
it 
is 
not. 
Nothing 
ean 
be 
right 
that 
is 
out 
of 
lllterpretatlO~, 
or 
the 
proper 
meamng, 
I~ 
order 
to 
be 
under- 
harmony 
with 
love, 
as 
nothing 
can 
be 
right 
that 
is 
out 
of 
har- 
stood. 
In 
hIS 
letter 
to 
the 
ehureh 
at 
Con~th, 
chapters 
12 
and 
many 
with 
God. 
The 
Apostle 
says, 
in 
describing 
love, 
that 
it 
l~, 
he 
expresse~ 
the 
thought 
t.h~t 
these 
dIfferent 
tongues 
an. 
d 
does 
not 
think 
evil, 
does 
not 
vaunt 
itself, 
has 
not 
the 
disposi- 
gIfts 
were 
all 
llltended 
to 
nUlllster 
to 
the 
ehurch 
for 
then 
tion 
to 
be 
puffed 
up, 
is 
not 
easily 
provoke<1, 
does 
not 
take 
benefit 
as 
a 
whole. 
pleasure 
in 
iniquity, 
ete. 
PURPOSE 
SERVED 
BY 
THE 
GIFTS 
We 
may, 
of 
course, 
rememlJPr 
tlwt 
our 
word 
love 
is 
made 
'fhe 
gift 
of 
tongues 
was 
given 
at 
that 
time 
to 
supply 
their 
to 
cover 
a 
variety 
of 
spntiments; 
for 
inst:mce, 
the 
lovc 
of 
a 
laek 
otherwise. 
The 
early 
ehureh 
had 
no 
Bible. 
Being 
put 
hen 
for 
her 
ehickens, 
her 
eare 
over 
them; 
thp 
love 
of 
a 
father 
out 
of 
the 
synagogues, 
they 
had 
no 
access 
to 
the 
Old 
Testa- 
and 
mother 
for 
their 
children, 
amI 
their 
ea 
re 
over 
them. 
Love, 
ment, 
and 
the 
New 
Testament 
was 
not 
yet 
written. 
Therefore 
then, 
ineludes 
this 
intprest 
in 
an 
that 
are 
llIl<ler 
one's 
care. 
God's 
people 
without 
these 
gifts 
would 
have 
had 
very 
little 
God 
has 
this 
quality 
of 
sympathy 
which 
lealls 
him 
to 
look 
out 
to 
help 
them-to 
teach 
them. 
None 
were 
qualified 
to 
teach 
for 
the 
whole 
universe-all 
sentient 
creatures, 
an 
that 
have 
the 
brethren. 
Only 
the 
power 
of 
God 
could 
give 
them 
this 
life. 
He 
is 
bound 
by 
Love 
to 
look 
out 
for 
a11 
these. 
ability 
to 
teach. 
Therefore 
the 
Apostle 
Paul 
urged 
them 
not 
In 
human 
love-natural 
love-we 
find 
sympathy 
a 
very 
to 
forsake 
the 
assembling 
of 
themselves 
together. 
As 
they 
~trong 
quality. 
Then 
we 
have 
a 
higher 
than 
mere 
sympa- 
saw 
the 
great 
day 
of 
Christ 
drawing 
on, 
they 
should 
have 
great 
the 
tic 
love-we 
have 
esteem, 
apprceiation 
of 
some 
admirabll~ 
desire 
to 
come 
together 
and 
to 
discuss 
these 
things 
of 
God's 
quality. 
We 
say 
that 
we 
love 
pertain 
traits 
in 
the 
charaeter 
plan. 
of 
some 
one. 
Again 
we 
have 
somdhing 
more 
than 
mere 
sym- 
And 
when 
they 
were 
assembled, 
it 
was 
of 
great 
advantage 
pathy 
and 
esteem; 
we 
have 
affeetionate 
love. 
This 
is 
a 
vpry 
to 
them 
that 
some 
one 
should 
rise 
to 
speak. 
And 
they 
might 
real 
and 
deep 
interest 
in 
evpry 
affair 
of 
the 
one 
we 
love- 
desire, 
or 
pray, 
as 
the 
ease 
might 
be, 
that 
God 
would 
send 
them 
a 
deep, 
sympathetie 
love 
which 
would 
stop 
at 
nothing-even 
some 
interpretation. 
In 
this 
way 
the 
church 
was 
drawn 
to- 
though 
it 
is 
an 
earthly 
love. 
The 
only 
tlling 
that 
could 
be 
gether 
and 
held 
together. 
They 
did 
not 
know 
what 
message 
superior 
to 
it 
would 
be 
our 
love 
for 
the 
Almigllty, 
whieh 
would 
eome 
in 
this 
way 
from 
the 
Lord. 
should 
dominate 
us 
as 
superior 
to 
this 
affeetionate 
love. 
We 
are 
not 
to 
suppose 
that 
God 
would 
thus 
give 
any 
very 
Later 
comes 
in 
the 
spiritual 
love 
for 
the 
Lord's 
people 
deep 
doetrinal 
matters. 
But 
it 
does 
appear 
that 
in 
this 
way 
which 
seeks 
to 
avoid 
all 
fleshly 
prl'fprences, 
speking 
merply 
he 
gave 
his 
people 
some 
milk 
of 
the 
Word, 
until 
the 
New 
Testa- 
to 
live 
as 
a 
new 
creature, 
and 
to 
look 
after 
the 
we1fnre 
of 
the 
ment 
should 
be 
arranged-written 
and 
eollected 
in 
an 
avail- 
new 
creatlll'e. 
Thus 
doing, 
we 
beeome 
elosely 
united 
to 
the 
able 
form. 
The 
Apostle 
Paul 
led 
off 
with 
these 
gifts 
to 
the 
things 
of 
God 
and 
to 
all 
who 
are 
associatel} 
with 
us 
in 
tlh" 
church. 
The 
g'ifts 
of 
tongups, 
nevertheless, 
were 
surpassed 
work 
of 
this 
Gospd 
age. 
This 
is 
the 
highest 
type 
of 
lo\'e 
on 
hy 
highpr 
gifts, 
some 
higher 
arrangements' 
for 
them. 
St, 
any 
plane 
of 
being-this 
into 
which 
we 
have 
entere<1. 
God 
is 
Paul 
would 
rather 
that 
they 
should 
he 
orators, 
puhlic 
speak- 
love. 
'fhe 
more 
Wl~ 
grow 
up 
into 
this 
proper, 
spiritual 
love, 
ers, 
or 
have 
an 
interpretation 
of 
an 
unknown 
tongue. 
rfhi~ 
the 
more 
we 
are 
growing 
up 
into 
the 
eharactpr-likeness 
of 
our 
would 
mean 
more 
of 
personal 
contaet 
with 
the 
Lord. 
There- 
Father, 
of 
which 
we 
read, 
"Be 
ye 
therefore 
per 
feet, 
even 
as 
fore 
they 
should 
desire 
such 
a 
gift 
in 
preferenee 
to 
one 
of 
less 
your 
Father 
which 
is 
in 
heaven 
is 
perfect. 
"-Matt. 
5 
:48. 
importance. 
This 
lovp 
,loes 
not 
stop 
\vith 
those 
who 
arc 
appreciative 
of 
it, 
Then 
the 
A 
postle 
proepeds: 
"Yet 
show 
I 
unto 
you 
a 
more 
but 
also 
goes 
out 
to 
those 
who 
are 
unapprp(·iati,"e, 
knowing 
exeellent 
way! 
" 
something 
still 
better 
than 
those 
sppeial 
gifts 
that 
something 
is 
11indering 
them 
from 
attaching 
a.ny 
value 
to 
which 
he 
had 
been 
discusRing-hetter 
than 
speaking 
with 
suc·h 
love. 
Love, 
then, 
is 
so 
mndl 
of 
God's 
likeness, 
tIle 
thine( 
tongnes, 
better 
than 
working 
miraeles, 
better 
than 
interpreting. 
to 
be 
most 
appn'(·iatetl, 
the 
thing 
withont 
whieh 
all 
else 
in 
life 
He 
goes 
on 
to 
show 
that 
these 
things 
wonld 
pass 
away, 
and 
is 
ns(']ess. 
To 
be 
(levoid 
of 
love 
is 
to 
be 
(levoil1 
of 
God-likeness. 
be 
no 
longer 
necessary 
to 
the 
ehnreh, 
but 
he 
was 
going 
to 
tell 
AmI 
so 
the 
Apostle 
goeR 
on 
to 
enumerate 
the 
characteristies 
them 
of 
things 
that 
would 
never 
pass 
away. 
Therefore 
they 
of 
this 
love-meekness, 
gentleness, 
long-suffering, 
hrotherly 
[5265] 
(195- 
1 
96 
) 
Vout. XXXIV BROOKLYN, N. Y., JULY 1, 19138 No. 18 THE GREATEST THING IN THE UNIVERSE—PART I “*Covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet I show unto you a more excellent way.’’—1 Cor. 12:31. The Apostle James has declared that every good and every perfect gift cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness or shadow of turning. Hence every gift from God would be a blessing. Even those upon whom God will execute the sentence of the second death may be said to receive something that is not really an injury to their best interests. In thinking over these different gifts of God, the Apostle Paul enumerates some of those that were given to the church in the beginning of this Gospel age. We read in the psalms: ‘¢Thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell amongst them.’’ (Psalm 68:18) Some of those gifts were given to the men who became followers of the Lord Jesus. After Jesus had ascended, all his followers were fo particularly wait until he would send them, from the Father, the power and blessing of the holy Spirit, which was to come to each sincere believer, and which was to be accompanied by gifts—by some outward gift and manifestation, useful and to be used. In our context the Apostle enumerates some of these gifts —apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers, pastors; others received gifts of tongues, healings, power to perform miracles, power to cast out Satan, power to interpret tongues, power to discern spirits. Some received one of these and some another; some received several. St. Paul had various gifts, and declared that he spoke more tongues than they all. (1 Cor. 14:18) Jt would appear that the early church thought very highly of the gift of tongues. They became very anxious to have God give them this particular gift. But the Apostle tells them that God had still more valuable blessings than this of speaking with tongues, which they so earnestly desired. They were to distinguish between the different gifts, and they were to desire, were to prefer, the best —to exercise discrimination of mind as to which would be the best. gift. He declares that he would rather speak five words in a known tongue than to speak ten thousand in an unknown tongue, and not be able to interpret. He told them that they should pray for interpretation—that they should not only desire to speak in unknown tongues, but also desire to give the interpretation, or the proper meaning, in order to be understood. In his letter to the church at Corinth, chapters 12 and 14, he expressed the thought that these different tongues and gifts were all intended to minister to the church for their benefit as a whole. PURPOSE SERVED BY THE GIFTS The gift of tongues was given at that time to supply their lack otherwise. The early church had no Bible. Being put out of the synagogues, they had no access to the Old Testament, and the New Testament was not yet written. Therefore God’s people without these gifts would have had very little to help them—to teach them. None were qualified to teach the brethren. Only the power of God could give them this ability to teach. Therefore the Apostle Paul urged them not to forsake the assembling of themselves together. As they saw the great day of Christ drawing on, they should have great desire to come together and to discuss these things of God’s plan. And when they were assembled, it was of great advantage to them that some one should rise to speak. And they might desire, or pray, as the case might be, that God would send them some interpretation. In this way the church was drawn together and held together. They did not know what message would come in this way from the Lord. We are not to suppose that God would thus give any very deep doctrinal matters. But it does appear that in this way he gave his people some milk of the Word, until the New Testament should be arranged—written and collected in an available form. The Apostle Paul led off with these gifts to the church. The gifts of tongues, nevertheless, were surpassed by higher gifts, some higher arrangements’ for them. St. Paul would rather that they should be orators, public speakers, or have an interpretation of an unknown tongue. This would mean more of personal eontact with the Lord. Therefore they should desire such a gift in preference to one of less importance, Then the Apostle proceeds: ‘‘ Yet show I unto you a more excellent way!’’ something still better than those special gifts which he had been diseussing—hetter than speaking with tongues, better than working miracles, better than interpreting. He goes on to show that these things would pass away, and be no longer necessary to the church, but he was going to tel] them of things that would never pass away. Therefore they [5265] should discern and seek especially the best gift. They should not only discriminate amongst these gifts and choose the best, but they should be looking beyond these to a developed condition of heart which would be specially pleasing to the Lord, and would bring them into closer relationship with him. He proceeds to explain that this is love. They might have the gift of prophesying, of working miracles, of healing the sick, of speaking with tongues, of interpretation, and yet come short of ever attaining the highest blessing of the Lord, unless they should incorporate into their lives this better thing—LOVE. No matter how well able they might be to speak with tongues or to interpret or to work miracles, etc., this love was a far more important thing for them to have. Then he enumerates the various qualities of love—meekness, patience, brotherly kindness, ete. The sum of them all is love. It is love for the brethren, love for friends, love for neighbors, love for our enemies, which would do them good, and not at all wish to see them suffer injury. This, then, is the more excellent thing. Though the elements of love are developed qualities and may, therefore, properly be called fruits, they may be called gifts also. From the apple-tree we get gifts of apples; from the peach-tree we get gifts of peaches; from the pear-tree, gifts of pears, etc. Since we have to do with the development of these qualities of the Spirit, they are styled fruits of the Spirit. And they are far more excelent and far more to be desired than the merely mechanical gifts, which at the first came to all of God’s people, because of their special need, but many of which passed away shortly after the apostles died. LOVE—VARYING IN KIND The question naturally and properly arises, What is love? The Bible answers, ‘‘God is love.’’ As it is impossible to fully describe God in his greatness, so it seems impossible to fully describe all that would be comprehended in the word love. Love is the most powerful thing in the world; therefore love most nearly represents God, because he is the Supreme, Almighty One. We might say that God is not this, not that, not the other. And so with love—we might describe it by saying what it is not. Nothing can be right that is out of harmony with love, as nothing can be right that is out of harmony with God. The Apostle says, in describing love, that it does not think evil, does not vaunt itself, has not the disposition to be puffed up, is not easily provoked, does not take pleasure in iniquity, ete. We may, of course, remember that our word love is made to cover a variety of sentiments; for instance, the love of a hen for her chickens, her care over them; the love of a father and mother for their children, and their care over them. Love, then, includes this interest in all that are under one’s ¢are. God has this quality of sympathy which leads him to look out for the whole universe—all sentient creatures, all that have life. He is bound by Love to look out for all these, In human love—natural love—we find sympathy a very strong quality. Then we have a higher than mere sympathetic love—we have esteem, appreciation of some admirable quality. We say that we love certain traits in the character of some one. Again we have something more than mere sympathy and esteem; we have affectionate love. This is a very real and deep interest in every affair of the one we love— a deep, sympathetic love which would stop at nothing-—-even though it is an earthly love. The only thing that could be superior to it would be our love for the Almighty, which should dominate us as superior to this affectionate love. Later comes in the spiritual love for the Lord’s people which secks to avoid all fleshly preferences, seeking merely to live as a new creature, and to look after the welfare of the new ereature. Thus doing, we become closely united to the things of God and to all who are associated with us in the work of this Gospel age. This is the highest type of love on any plane of being—this into which we have entered. God is love. The more we grow up into this proper, spiritual love, the more we are growing up into the character-likeness of our Father, of which we read, ‘‘Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.’’—Matt. 5:48. This love does not stop with those who are appreciative of it, but also goes out to those who are unappreciative, knowing that something is hindering them from attaching any value to such love. Love, then, is so much of God’s likeness, the thing to be most appreciated, the thing without which all else in life is useless. To be devoid of love is to be devoid of God-likeness. And so the Apostle goes on to cnumerate the characteristics of this love—meekness, gentlencss, long-suffering, brotherly (195-196)

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