KRIS SEALE | PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
As we entered 2021, we were facing the resurgence
Mr. Noble had an interesting revelation that I want to
of COVID-19—with a new variant. We were praying
share with you. He said, “In 1 Corinthians 12, the emphasis
that the United States economy would not be shut
of Paul’s writing to the church is about spiritual gifts,
down again, as occurred in 2020. But how the year
leadership, and the importance of working together.
would play out was a mystery. We continued to plan
In 1 Corinthians 14, he continues this line of reasoning
and work as if the pandemic would subside and
as he talks about leaders sounding a clear call for their
business would return to some sense of normalcy. In
followers. But right in the middle of these two chapters,
addition, we continued our focus on L-E-O (Love
we find 1 Corinthians 13. It is a short section (just 13
Each Other). Our attitude toward moving forward
verses), tucked between these two leadership chapters.
with our business and our emphasis on L-E-O would
It seemed like Paul was writing about leadership, and
prove to be the secret of our success in 2021.
then he paused and thought, ‘Hmm, maybe I should write something Christians can use in their wedding
As I reflected on 2021 and the success we had, I
ceremonies one day!’”
remembered a book that I read several years ago called The Most Excellent Way to Lead by Perry Noble. This book
The author continued by saying, “But the Bible wasn’t
transformed the way I interpreted 1 Corinthians 13 –
originally separated by chapters and verses (those
what many people refer to as “the love chapter.” If you
were added later to help people find certain Scripture
have ever attended a wedding ceremony, you have likely
passages). Once I had that realization, it hit me like a
heard a verse or two quoted from this passage. However,
brick in the face: 1 Corinthians 13 is primarily a chapter
The Most Excellent Way to Lead reasons that there may be
on how to lead, not how to have a great marriage. Paul
another purpose for “the love chapter.”
is continuing his discussion about leadership here, and
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