Paraphrased for musicians by Jim Mathis

If I have the most gorgeous voice in the world, but have not love, I might as well be beating on a trash can. If have perfect pitch and know all there is to know about chords and harmonies and have mastered the last detail of music theory, but have not love, I am nothing. If I play in prisons, concert halls, churches, and arenas, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient to those less skilled. Love treats the audience with respect. Love does not need a Martin D-45 and a stack of Marshall amps. Love is not arrogant nor does it show false humility. Love does everything possible to please the audience. It doesn’t get upset when it can’t hear the monitors or if somebody is out of tune. Love does not brood over last night’s gig. Love does not enjoy seeing somebody else bomb, but wants everyone to rock. Love takes care of other musicians and is always trying to improve.

If there is love, there are no failures. Great players lose their chops, great singers lose their voices, great songs are forgotten, but love will never die.

We will never get it right here on earth, but when we get to heaven, the whole set will be nailed.

When I was a child, I dinked around on my instrument, but when I became a man, I played with passion. Now I hear like a cheap speaker, in heaven, it will be 10,000 watts and crystal clear. Now I have to look for the chords, then they will all fall under my fingers and Jesus Christ will hear each note of worship played for Him.

And now three things remain; faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Articles by Jim Mathis
I Corinthians 13
Here's the Low Down
Let's Start a Band
Fourteen Generations
The Steel Guitar
Tubes vs Solid-State
"Ear" vs "Note"