Spiritual Gifts
Often, spiritual gifts tend to be idolised.
At times, it seems like if you can’t speak in tongues or prophecy then maybe you’re not doing this Christian thing correctly. I even have a friend who thought that tongues were a sign of one’s salvation. That if you didn’t leave the altar call speaking in tongues then did you really receive Jesus?
This notion that spiritual gifts are some sort of a witness to the authenticity of one’s faith or intimacy with God simply isn’t biblical and has even led to some falling into error.
All Biblical teaching of spiritual gifts can be summarised in 1 Corinthians 12-14. In Chapter 12, Paul opens by expressing his concerns for the church to not be uninformed about spiritual gifts. In verse 3 he draws our focus to a sign that someone has received the Holy Spirit. We are known by our fruit. Paul starts on fruit first and then continues into his teaching on spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12:1-3).
Here, Paul explains that we are one body with multiple members and that the Holy Spirit delegates different gifts to each member of the body of Christ.
Paul encourages us to earnestly desire the “higher gifts” (1 Cor 12:31). “Higher”, is not in the sense that members with these gifts increase in rank, but to say that some gifts are more effective in serving the body than others. This explains why gifts like teaching and even leadership was given above tongues (1 Cor 12:28-31, 1 Cor 14:4).
We’ve all been given some gift. Even the ones we don’t think much of are described as ‘indispensable’ to the body (1 Cor 12:22). We are, therefore, encouraged here to identify our gifts so that it can be developed as a resource for the church.
A key point in the text is that if we desire other spiritual gifts, we ought to think towards the benefit of the church and especially desire the gifts that can help the body as a whole.
Paul hammers on this point, straightening our priorities by showing us a “more excellent way” (1 Cor 12:31).
Love. The point is, that if we have all the spiritual gifts in the world but lack love, then we’ve completely missed the point.
“And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”– 1 Cor 13:2
Outside of love our gifts are worthless. The most renowned ministry in the world is just an elaborate theatre performance if it isn’t centred on the love of Christ.
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – Jn 13:35
The priority of the church shouldn’t be to pump out teachers and prophets. In an age where anyone can turn on their camera, put on a cross neckless and speak, it’s important to understand that not everyone is called to teach and not everyone can prophesy. The church needs fewer speakers and more examples. Less people obsessed with acquiring prophetic powers and more fixated on how they can reveal Christ through their character.
There’s nothing wrong with spiritual gifts. They are good for building up the body and we are even encouraged to “earnestly desire” them, however, above this, we are to “pursue love” (1 Cor 14:1). The Greek verb here means to press on to a goal with intensity. In other words, love is a goal we strive and take action towards, while spiritual gifts are a blessing we ought to desire earnestly.
Overall, spiritual gifts don’t mark our intimacy with God, nor do they boost our status in the church. However, they should be desired with the correct heart posture and stewarded towards the bride of Christ.
