“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may
prophesy.” (v.1)
In
our text today, Paul is reminding the people of Corinth about the purpose of
spiritual gifts and how they are to function in a public worship assembly - specifically
the gift of tongues. He does not fault them for the gift nor the desire to have
it, he simply instructs them not to use their gifts, especially tongues, to
inflate their own self–importance or cause confussion during corporate worship.
Spiritual
gifts are given for the common good, and when the community gathers, priority
should be given to the gift of prophecy for it convicts the heart (v. 24). Paul
goes on to say while there’s freedom in the gatherings, nevertheless, there are
restrictions put in place. These restrictions, such as forbidding more than one
person from talking at a time or requiring interpretation for a person speaking
in tongues, do not restrain the Spirit but, promote order (vv. 26-40). Therefore,
the exercise of spiritual gifts should always be done for edification (v.26),
properly and in an orderly manner (v.40).
Most
importantly Paul reminds them to desire spiritual gifts (v.1) Why? that they might edify the body (v.12).
The
Truth
“Even so
you, since you are zealous for spiritual
gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that
you seek to excel.” (v.12)
