1 Corinthians 13 is famously known as the chapter on love. In it, Paul described the various characteristics of love (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). He declared that “love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8). Between faith, hope, and love, Paul said that “the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).
The reason why love is so important is because it is to be the motivation behind everything that we do. Later he told these brethren, “Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14).
However, sometimes we can be guilty of doing the right thing for the wrong reason. We could do something good but have some sort of ulterior motive. Paul explained that doing good without love is not good enough.
If we speak in tongues without love, we are “a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1). If we have the faith to move mountains but have no love, we are “nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2). If we give our money and even our lives for others but do not have love, “it profits [us] nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:3). This should be a serious wake-up call for us.
So remember that good works without love are worthless. We need to make sure we do what is right for the right reason. As God loves us, we should show love for Him and for others and use that as the motivation for whatever good we can do in this life.