How we handle our spiritual gifts is very important. Paul cautions us here to be careful in how, when and where we use our gifts. He places a lot of emphasis on the gift of prophecy being a very helpful gift, and those who can speak in tongues must watch that they don’t exclusively talk in the Spirit lest those around them that cannot speak or cannot understand are left out. It is not God’s intention that we set ourselves apart because of our gifts. To the contrary, we are to use our gifts to glorify him and help each other.
As I read through this passage today, I couldn’t help but understand Paul’s counsel in a new way. After retiring to Mexico, I am constantly surrounded by the native speakers, and many times I do not understand a single thing I hear. I am always relieved when after my feeble attempt to speak, the native speaker asks me, in English, if I would rather ask that again in English. I may turn several shades of red, but until I have a better understanding and grasp of the language, which is my intention, I am often frustrated, or unsure of myself in some situations.
In this same way, if we were attending a church service where people were speaking in tongues the whole time, unless there were also people gifted with interpretation present, there would be a sense of confusion among the people.
So this is a good reminder to us that our gifts are meant to help other people, and if we are seeking self gratification or some other personal gain, we are misusing the gifts God so richly lavished on us.
Again, if you haven’t ever done a spiritual gift analysis, I would encourage you to do so. You don’t want to live another minute without being in God’s will or leaving his gift unopened.
Let’s pray. Father God thank you for the gifts you have given me. I pray that I don’t misuse them in any way. Please give me a clean heart so that I can enter into a time of worship to you. You alone are my source. May I empty myself of me to be ready for you to move. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
We’re here! The “love” chapter. I bet you can’t even count the number of times you’ve heard this, whether it be at a wedding or elsewhere. Maybe you even had it read at your own wedding (if you’re married). There are some really beautiful passages in this chapter.
I have always liked how this passage describes the body of Christ. What do you picture when you hear reference to “the body of Christ”? Even more exciting, we are part of that body! This is a great carryover from our reading yesterday on spiritual gifts in that our “part” of the body is dependent on our gifting.
This is only one of several places where spiritual gifts are discussed. As Paul tells us, a spiritual gift is from God given to us to help others. We don’t all get the same gifts, God gives us the gift (or gifts) he wants for us. Paul needed to corral in the Corinthians because they were misusing their gifts with showy displays of spirituality. They were disrupting worship gatherings by drawing attention to themselves. Paul has to be careful in his cautioning so as to not dispute the authenticity of their experience. It was also important for them to remember who initiated the gift giving, it was God and not themselves.
You probably noticed the familiar language that we hear as we prepare for Holy Communion in our church services. It is helpful to remember that Jesus gave us this “ritual” to celebrate and remember him. What we might not always remember is that in the early church, when followers met together, this remembrance was not set apart in a worship service but was most likely an actual meal shared between believers in a home. The wine and bread were there, but so also might have been other food.
