At the beginning of 1 Corinthians 12, Paul explains that the Holy Spirit gives different gifts to the people who follow God. He goes on to list these many spiritual gifts, including messages of wisdom, working of miracles, discerning of spirits, etc. These gifts hold great value.

He ends the chapter with an intriguing statement. “And yet I will show you the most excellent way” (1 Cor. 12:31, NIV). After listing amazing, God-given gifts, Paul says that there is a “most excellent way” to implement these gifts. 

But, Paul doesn’t leave us wondering. He starts off the very next chapter by vividly describing the pointlessness of these amazing gifts if they are used without love, emphasizing that “the most excellent way” requires love.

As educators, we may have the gift of teaching, but in order for us to be teachers of excellence, we need to show the love of God as we use our gifts. 

We can apply this principle of excellence to the classroom by: 

• modeling compassion and kindness 
• preparing our students for success
• encouraging our students
• walking alongside our students through difficulties
• teaching with integrity
• meeting the needs of our students
• going out of our comfort zones to explore new teaching methods
• seeing our students the way God sees them, and in turn showing them God’s love.

Teaching with love is indeed “the most excellent way.”