I Corinthians 13:1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor , and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

vs 1 Even though I may have the ability to speak with the tongues (languages) of men and angel, if I don't have love I am just making noise (sounding brass, tinkling cymbal).

vs 2 I may have the gift of prophecy (prediction) or understand (perceive) all mysteries (a secret through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites) and all knowledge (the act of knowing). I may have faith that I can move mountains, but I am nothing without love.
Faith 4102 pistis pis'-tis from 3982; persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious Gospel) truth itself:--assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity. Hebrews 11:1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

vs 3 I may give everything I have to feed the poor or sacrifice myself to be burned, but if I lack love, even those things aren't useful to me.

vs 4 Love patiently endures. Love is acts benevolently. Love does not get jealous. Love does not boast and is not proud.

vs 5 Love does not act in ways that are unbecoming. Love it takes no thought for itself. Love is not easily provoked (quickly made angry). Love does not keep track of evils (harms).

vs 6 Love does not take joy in sin or wrong things, but it does take joy in the truth.

vs 7 Love endures all things, trusts all things, expects all things, and goes through or perseveres all things.

vs 8 Love never is found lacking. If there are prophecies (predictions) they will fail, if there are tongues (languages) they will stop, if there is knowledge it will disappear. I like how the BBE (Bible in Basic English) words it 8Though the prophet's word may come to an end, tongues come to nothing, and knowledge have no more value, love has no end.

vs 13 Now three things remain, faith, hope and love, but the greatest is love.

Matthew 22:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart (feelings), and with all thy soul (spiritual nature), and with all thy mind (thoughts). 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

God knew the perfect words to use to let us know what love is. He also lets us know how to use it. We are to love HIM with all our heart, sould and mind. Then we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. That means take care of their needs. I just thought that this time of heartbreak and outreach due to hurricane Katrina really called for a deeper study of godly love.

May God richly bless you. Jo