Problems Plaguing a Local Church, Part 23
In our message, DESIRING GOD (1 Cor. 12:12-31), we continued to look at a question about the use of spiritual gifts in corporate worship. At the end of this chapter some will argue we are to desire the spiritual gifts we deem are the “best,” but that is NOT what the Bible is saying! (1 Cor. 12:31). We are to desire God (Matt. 6:33; James 1:17, etc.). The whole focus of the discussion on spiritual gifts from chapters 12 through 14 is to use them to build one another up in love (1 Cor. 12:31b-13:8; Eph. 4:15-16, etc.), and the Bible also clearly says it is God alone (Spirit, Son, and Father respectively here) who assigns the gifts as He determines (1 Cor. 12:11, 18, 28). Obviously, coveting gifts we do not possess certainly cannot be what He is saying! (1 Cor. 12:31 KJV vs. 1 Cor. 13:4 KJV; 2 Cor. 10:12, etc.). These special abilities from the Spirit are not to be used for our glory but His glory by building one another up in the love of God (Eph. 3:20-21; 4:7, 15-16; 1 Cor. 12:31-13:8; Rom. 12:9, etc.). Scripture shows us when we seek His face and become more like Jesus, the Holy Spirit changes even our desires to be His desires as we realize better how good He is (James 1:17; Ps. 34:8; Heb. 11:6; Eph. 2:8-9; Ps. 37:4-5 NOG; James 1:17; 1 Pet. 1:13, etc.).
Diversity of the body and gifts is evidence of the manifold wisdom of God which surpasses all understanding (Eph. 3:10-11, 20-21; 4:7, etc.). After mentioning a representative list of some of the gifts in Corinth at that time (1 Cor. 12:8-10), the Lord continues to explain how the church, though comprising one body, is diverse with many members (1 Cor. 12:12, 14). Part of this diversity is reflected in the gifts God has distributed to each member which are manifestations of His grace and certainly not something to brag about! (1 Cor. 4:7; 12:11, 18, 28; Eph. 4:7, etc.). Yet even though we are many members- each unique by God- we are also all united into one family, one body- through the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit when we were first saved by grace through faith (1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 1:13-14; 2:8-9, etc.). For the body to work properly it has to be attached and each part has to be doing its share to help others (Eph. 4:15-16, etc.). Different parts of the body are NEEDED if it is to exist (1 Cor. 12:19, 22-23, etc.). Divisions in this sense act like cancers, breaking apart the body and harming it in terrible ways (1 Cor. 12:20-21). And it is also true that (spiritually) sin is the ultimate source of this poison (the old man- Col. 3:8-9). That is why confession which brings healing and forgiveness in a fellowship sense to Christians is so important (Col. 3:10; 1 John 1:9; Eph. 5:18, etc.). The word “comprised” (or tempered in the KJV) refers to the mingling of two elements so that they become a compound (1 Cor. 12:24). This is what God does with the body making us one in Christ- though we are different. The parts of the body that need more attention are to be given special honor the Word says here because all parts are needed and no part can do without the other (1 Cor. 12:22-23, 25). “If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it [and] if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it” (1 Cor. 12:26). In this way gifts are to be used “for the profit of all” uniting us in ministry showing the diversity of the body (1 Cor. 12:27) for the glory of God (1 Cor. 12:7, 25).
God then gave a second list of spiritual gifts that differs from the first list in this chapter, once again, showing us they are selective rather than exhaustive. Two new gifts mentioned here are “helps” and “administrations” (1 Cor. 12:28). Three (apostles, prophets, and teachers) are also prioritized in the first century here showing them to be crucial in laying the foundation of the church. We also see the Corinthian’s favorite gift of tongues that many were clamoring to have and show off with listed last again here (1 Cor. 12:10, 28). And the Bible strikes a deathblow here to the theory that speaking in tongues is a sign of the possession of the Holy Spirit, for no one possesses all the gifts! (1 Cor. 12:29-30, etc). This may be what the Lord meant when He said to “earnestly desire the best gifts” at the end of the chapter (1 Cor. 12:31). The church should defer to letting the apostles and prophets of that day use their gifts (teachers also) over other gifts like tongues because they are prioritized here by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:28, 31).
As mentioned before, some church traditions will use verse 31 to advocate God is teaching us to “covet… the best gifts” for ourselves (1 Cor. 12:31 KJV). So, they would say if you can’t speak in tongues (their perception of the best gift) you should pray to God until you force Him to give you that gift. Demanding God to give us any gift is, once again, completely false and not the meaning of the Bible here because it is the Lord alone who distributes the gifts as He decides (Spirit, Son and Father- 1 Cor. 12:11, 18, 28). Also, Scripture clearly teaches no one believer possesses the all the gifts (1 Cor. 7:7; 12:29-30; Eph. 4:7, etc.). Indeed, God uniquely designs each of us for certain tasks “And if [we] were all [the same], where would the body be?” (1 Cor. 12:19).
Verse 31 in the NLT reads, “earnestly desire the most helpful gifts” (1 Cor. 12:31a NLT) and the NET says, “be eager for the greater gifts” (1 Cor. 12:31a NET). We should be thankful for the way God made each of us and desire to use the gift(s) He gave us to their maximum potential (Eph. 4:7). That is the best gift- the greater gift for each of us… Doing what He has made us to do and walking in it (Eph. 2:10, etc.). When we desire to walk in the way God made us, we are also desiring God by advancing His kingdom most effectively (Matt. 6:33; Ps. 37:4-5; Eph. 5:18, etc.). He has set a specific race before each one of us and made each of us up uniquely (Heb. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 9:24-27, etc.).
Dr. Earl Radmacher, Ronald Allen, and H. Wayne House also explain verse 31 could read “you are desiring” instead of “earnestly desire.” They write, “The translation of earnestly desire presents a problem: Should it be translated as the NKJV does, as an imperative, or as an indicative statement of fact: ‘You are desiring sensational gifts’? The Greek word zēlóō, normally a negative term, allows either. The imperative is chosen by most interpreters, but the indicative is possible and would fit with the correction which chapters 12-14 aim.” God’s Word Translation (GW) and the Names of God Bible (NOG) read with the indicative, “You only want the better gifts, but I will show you the best thing to do” (1 Cor. 12:31 NOG). And this “best thing to do” is to build one another up with our gifts in God’s holy love, which also is the fruit of the Spirit/becoming more like Christ (Gal. 5:22-23; Eph. 5:18; 1 Cor. 12:13b-13:13; Rom. 12:9, etc.). Of all the places the Lord could have put this “love chapter” in the Bible- it is here in the midst of a discussion about spiritual gifts! May we use these special abilities God has given “to each one of us” with Christ’s immeasurable power- building one another up in the “more excellent way” He speaks of which also means turning from sin (Eph. 4:7; 1 Cor. 3:18; 9:27; 12:31b; Isa. 6:3; Gal. 6:7; Luke 9:23; 1 John 1:9, etc.).