Rēad to Read …Again
Daily Reading: I Corinthians 12-14
I Corinthians 12:1
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
In a selfish and self-assured world, spiritual gifts are largely misunderstood. Paul clears up much about them, their source, their use, and their misuse. So, let’s follow a few things that he, Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit teaches about spiritual gifts.
To every person God extends the gift of eternal life. Some receive this gift through faith, and some reject it. Peter proved this when he wrote II Peter 3:9. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. God is willing, it is His will to save every person through the gospel of Jesus Christ. That gift, the gift of eternal life, is for the benefit of the one receiving it. But the spiritual gifts God gives is not for the benefit of the one receiving it, it is for the benefit of others. Specifically, that they (the lost) may come to receive Christ as well.
Spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit and those according to His will. Paul lists nine of those spiritual gifts: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, divers kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of foreign tongues. Others are sprinkled throughout the New Testament, but these are the nine that Paul listed. These gifts are given wholly at the will of the Spirit.
Which leads us to a truth that Paul already mentioned when speaking of being puffed up. He stated clearly in I Corinthians 4:7, For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? The glory of a gifted individual should go to the giver of the gift, not the possessor. The giver of course is God through the Spirit. Properly understood this truth will produce two great things within the body of believers; the end of boasting of the one possessing the gift, and the temptation to undue adoration of those who are gifted.
Yet, those who receive and properly use those gifts will profit from them. Even as Proverbs 17:8 clearly teaches, A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. True, spiritual gifts are given to benefit others, but they also benefit the user of the gift. Even as Paul wrote earlier in the letter to the Corinthians: If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things. (9:11).
Lastly, not the last word on gifts, but due to time and space the last detail mentioned in this short devotion. Lastly, no gift is lesser or more important than any other gift. In chapter 14 Paul gives the analogy of a church being a body. In that body are many members like a human body. Ears, fingers, knees, elbows, brains, brawn, on and on the list could go. No one part is greater than any other. Also, none are lesser. A gift may be one of a humble nature, but that by no means makes it inferior to others.
In conclusion let it be communicated that much hurt and divisiveness is caused in church over jealousy and petty curtness because of a lack of understanding of Spiritual gifts. This should not be, after all, Paul states clearly that he (through the inspiration of God’s Spirit) would not have us to be ignorant over the nature, use, or response of Spiritual gifts.
Dr. William T. Howe
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