Day 338

Gifts of the Spirit

Read: 1 Corinthians 12-14

In the Corinthian church, the gift of speaking in tongues was being given too great a place of prominence, so Paul gently emphasizes that other gifts, ones much less spectacular, are more important.

The church is like a human body. As the body has different parts, so members of the church have different gifts. A person with one gift is not to look down on a person who has a different gift. A person with one gift is not to be jealous of those who have other gifts. A body is only healthy when it has different parts all functioning for the sake of the others. So with the church. We need to help each other.

In the two lists Paul gives in chapter 12, he places the gifts of being able to speak helpfully in ordinary language near the top of the list, the ability to speak in tongues near the bottom. He then says that they should have a greater desire for the gifts near the top, but that there is something more important than gifts; it is love. Love is unselfish action for the benefit of others. It will last forever, while even the most important gifts pass away. May your life and your congregation be dominated by love which is “patient and kind . . . not jealous or boastful” (13:4).

In chapter 14, Paul returns to the theme of how much more important is helpful speech than that which cannot be understood.

PRAYER
Father, help us to lead the church to an attitude of unity in diversity, where love abounds. In Jesus’ name. Amen.