Paul doesn't say impressive gifts are worthless in themselves. Tongues, prophecy, mountain-moving faith, extreme sacrifice: he says they're worth nothing without love, specifically. That's a strange kind of accounting. Capability multiplied by zero love still equals zero. It means the anxious drive to prove yourself through achievement, however extraordinary, was never actually the thing securing your worth in the first place. And notice what does last. Not the achievements, but faith, hope, and love, with love named as the greatest of even those. The permanence you're anxious to build through accomplishment was already being offered to you through something else entirely.