Unity And Spiritual Gifts (Part 3)(14:1-19)

Neal Pollard

It is pretty easy to break down the focus of Paul’s message in these 19 verses. In a nutshell, Paul is telling Corinth that prophecy and tongues are for the edification of the church. What was to move this was “love” (1). Not surprisingly, given that tongue-speaking might seem more exotic or impressive, the Corinthians seemed to put higher regard on that gift than the others. Paul makes the point that prophecy is superior to tongue-speaking for multiple reasons. By itself, tongue-speaking does not communicate to men (1-2), but prophecy did (3). Tongue-speaking edified only the speaker, but prophecy edified the whole church (4). Tongue-speaking required an interpreter, but prophecy didn’t (5-14). His summary of this contrast is: “In the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue” (19). 

We may wonder where the application is for us in our age of post-miraculous gifts. What can we take away from this section of Scripture since we have neither prophets nor tongue-speakers today. Notice how Paul’s words are relevant to us in the church today. 

BEWARE OF PRIDE

How were some regarding their gifts? In verse 20, he is going to suggest that they were being childish about these gifts. Chapter 12 shows that they were considering some gifts as “less honorable” and “more presentable” (23). Is it possible for us to do that today? Do we vaunt song leaders, preachers, teachers, and other more visible talents and have less regard for other ministries and works? We should not. Every single effort done for the glory of God and the advancement of His cause is equally vital and honorable.

SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE DESIRABLE

Paul is not saying they shouldn’t desire these spiritual gifts. In fact, the opposite is true (1, 12). Their mishandling or improperly viewing them did not nullify their need to engage in them. The Lord doesn’t want us on the sideline, burying our talent. He takes a dim view of that approach, doesn’t He (cf. Mat. 25:14-30). Do what you do best, but don’t fall prey to comparing your gift to someone else’s. That’s a false standard of measurement. “God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired” (12:18).

IT’S ALL ABOUT EDIFICATION

Why exercise spiritual gifts in the first place? Paul tells us. It is for edification and exhortation and consolation (3). The aim is to edify the whole church (4). The aim is “that the church may receive edifying” (5). He implores, “Seek to abound for the edification of the church” (12). It is failure if what you do results in that “the other person is not edified” (17). We do not have to guess what is at the heart of Paul’s concern here. He reveals it repeatedly. 

Isn’t it easy for us to lose sight of the purpose of our mission and identity even as we do “church work”? Sometimes, works and ministries are begun to achieve edification but somewhere along the way we forget that. Isn’t it ironic that Martha was part of the commendable choice to have Jesus in her home, but she lost sight of what was most important very quickly. It wasn’t about the serving, but about listening to His word (Luke 10:38-42).