Paul closes out this chapter on spiritual gifts with this inspiring statement: “But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31).
‘Covet’ is a word we usually associate with something negative, but Paul uses it in the positive. The NIV uses the phrase: “eagerly desire“. I remember several years ago when I found a missing link in my family history. It was like someone lit my fuse. With this new information I had several new resources I could research to find further links to the previous generations. I eagerly desired to get to the Allen County Public Library to check those out. Its like buying the kids some Christmas gift they really want and then eagerly desiring to see them open it on Christmas morning. When was the last time you eagerly desired something? Paul is telling us to have this kind of desire for spiritual gifts.
Paul also tells us to eagerly desire “the best gifts“. The NIV translates this “the greatest gifts“. What are the best or the greatest gifts? I think the best gifts for me are the gifts and ministries that God has designed me for. I don’t desire to work with church finances or in the nursery. My best gift would not be to work on the buses or to share my faith with strangers. I’m not wired that way. So I need to earnestly desire the best gifts for me personally. That’s where God can work through me to touch other lives.
What would be the best gifts for you? What has God designed you to be? What are you good at? What do you enjoy? What lights your fire and excites the Spirit within you? That is the best gift for you.
Notice also in this chapter that Paul gave two sets of gifts. In verses 8-10 he listed 9 spiritual gifts (spiritual abilities) and in verse 28 he listed 8 ministry gifts (people). People function with spiritual gifts and spiritual gifts work through people. Both must be valued in the church. What is your gift in the church?
But Paul ends chapter 12 with an introduction to chapter 13. Above all these spiritual and ministry gifts available to the church, there is a more excellent way to do ministry. We’ll continue our study of spiritual gifts with chapter 13 tomorrow.
Tags: ministry gifts, spiritual gifts
Paul is addressing the topic of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12-14. He had just declared that although we together comprise the body of Christ, you are “members in particular” (v. 27b). Then he continues, “And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues” (1 Corinthians 12:28). The “members in particular” have roles based upon their giftings in the body of Christ.
Observe first that we are told “God has set” these ministry gifts (people) in their positions. These are not elected positions. How do we know who God has called to what position? The gifts will support their calling. Just because someone wants to be an apostle doesn’t make them one. The rest of the body will recognize that ministry gift. In the church world, ordination is simply a public acknowledgment of what God has done.
I once was interviewing a lady pastor from Toledo who desired to become a member of our Fellowship of churches. Someone asked the question, “Do you think it is scriptural for a woman to be called into the ministry?” She wisely replied, “My ministry speaks for itself”. She was correct. She had started and built The People’s Church and had several hundred people attending. We ordained her.
Observe also that there is a sequence to these gifts. Apostle was in first place. Diversities of tongues was in last place. All gifts are important in the body, but there must be a head to the body which all other parts yield to.
Also note that God has set these ministry gifts “in the church“. Outside the church watching it on TV is not where God places these gifts. The individual gifts have their authority and miraculous power when they function together in harmony.
Where are you on the ministry gift list? Where would you like to be?
Tags: body, church, ministry gifts