Love is greater than faith. In the Christian realm of systematic theology, this could shake people to their existential core. Paul had no problem voicing Love matters more in every way that matters than Faith. It's the same thing he said in the opening verses: if you have faith but not love, you're nothing and gain nothing. James' stance on good work equaling faith is basically the same concept: real faith produces good works (all examples "loving" people) or else that faith is dead.