1 Corinthians 14:12 So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.

The NIV for this verse seems to me to be something of a put-down, and I don’t think that was Paul’s intention. Paul was simply trying to help them understand that there are gifts more helpful than tongues when it comes to building up the Church. The Japanese makes it clear that they were earnestly seeking spiritual gifts, and Paul wanted them to do that. He just wanted them to clarify and purify their motives. This really brings to mind my own experience with the Charismatic Movement, which started back in 1973. Everyone was excited about tongues, just as they seem to have been in Corinth. I wanted the power of the Holy Spirit, so I sought the gift of tongues. God very graciously didn’t give it to me until after I had realized that all of the gifts are no more that tools for building up the Church, as it says in this chapter, as Christ’s witnesses. (Acts 1:8) In this chapter Paul stresses the gift of prophecy, particularly in contrast to tongues, but I know of at least one group (and I’m sure there are several) that has gotten off balance by an over-emphasis on prophecy! Spiritual gifts are good and should be sought, but always with the desire and motivation that the Body of Christ be built up. I personally find the gift of tongues very helpful in private prayer, both to pray while I need to be focused on something else, like driving, or to pray for situations where I know very few details. However, I haven’t “given a message in tongues” in a group meeting in many years, if ever. I have heard such messages that, with interpretation, really did build up those present, but they have frankly been the exception.

So the question is, what do I do now? As a pastor, I would like to see more expression of gifts of the Holy Spirit among the believers here, but I want to keep the focus on Christ and His kingdom, and not on gifts themselves. I very much want each believer to grasp what gifts they already have, as well as what gifts are available to them, without anyone getting fixated on the presence or absence of any one gift. That takes more wisdom and skill than I possess in myself, so I have to seek God and depend on Him! I seek to preach prophetically, which is not to say “predicting the future,” but rather, “speaking out what God is saying.” I need to help the believers understand that God will always equip them for anything He sends them to do, and that He desires to do through them more than they can even imagine at this point.

Father, thank You for this reminder, to go along with all the rest You have been saying to me over the past few days. I ask You to make it clear to me what You want to say through me in this coming Sunday’s message, because right now I’ve got far too much for one service! I have a physically and emotionally packed schedule for the next three days. Help me be quiet before You in simple trust, so that I may be fully obedient in all You show me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!