1 Corinthians 13:1 English Standard Version (ESV) If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 

I am sure that everyone recognized the conclusion of yesterday’s post. This is the first line of the love chapter entitled The Way of Love.

Why did Paul use the examples of a gong and a cymbal to associate the lack of love? First impulse is to admit it is the inspired word of God and that Paul was inspired to include these musical instruments at God’s direction. That means that God has a message for us in their use.

The gong and cymbal are musical instruments that are not solo instruments. They are used primarily as instruments of inclusion, with purpose and precision. Alone, they sound out of place.

A cymbal is often used to denote tempo but does not carry the melody. It may help us keep pace but does not inspire us to sing.

The gong is dramatic, loud and emphatic. In music it often is used dramatically by being struck with a stick covered with a soft material such as leather or rubber. Where it is struck by the musician controls how it sounds. By itself it cannot make music.

Both require a choir master to have any real value.

We can be a gong or a cymbal and still have value, if we are led by Christ.

The point of reference is in the use of our tongues. Of men or of angels is irrelevant if Christ is not our choir master.

Man can inspire us and say things worth repeating. Angels are messengers of God and we want to be messengers. If we repeat what we have heard without taking direction from Christ, we have not made music.