1 Corinthians 14:6-12

                                                                 1 Corinthians 14:6-12

Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?  If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played?  And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?  So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.  There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.  So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

 

Paul continues to argue about the importance of using our gifts to edify the body of Christ and demonstrates how the gift of tongues does not naturally meet that qualification.  Others should always be the focus of our gifts, so whenever we use our gifts, they should naturally be understood by and beneficial to others.  We must guard our hearts against the pride of using our gifts to promote ourselves as opposed to serving others and bringing glory to God.

 

GIFTS SHOULD BENEFIT OTHERS: Paul’s concern for the apparent emphasis on the gift of tongues in the church at Corinth was that it was a gift that did not serve to benefit others.  Instead, it was a benefit only to the one who was speaking in tongues.  The gifts of prophecy, teaching, and knowledge or revelation of truth was beneficial to the body as a whole.  So, the criteria for valuing one gift over another is the benefit that gift gives to others in the body of Christ.

 

GIFTS SHOULD BE CLEAR TO OTHERS: Paul compares the gift of tongues to the out of tune or unclear notes of a musical instrument.  The instrument does not have any life of its own but depends on the one playing it. However, if the instrument is not in tune or the one playing the instrument is not playing in accord with the people around them, the result will be very negative.  We must be careful not to use our gifts in ways that are unclear or out of tune with the needs of the body of Christ around us.  People speak different languages all over the world.  If we do not speak a language, it is difficult to listen to the speech.  We must either have an interpreter or learn to speak the language.  The clarity of our gifts should be obvious to the people around us.

 

GIFTS SHOULD BUILD UP OTHERS: The purpose of any gift is to build up the body of Christ that is around us.  The church was eager to have manifestations of the spirit.  Apparently, the gift of tongues was one of the most desired manifestations as in many circles it continues to be today.  Paul confronts this desire as being self-centered and not building up the body of Christ.  The same could be said for any gift that it used for the purpose of self-promotion.  Our gifts should constantly be honed in light of how we can edify others as a result.

 

APPLICTION: Don’t use our gifts for purposes that do not help others.  Think of the necessities of others and then strive to be clear about how we meet those needs.  Use our gifts for God’s glory and the benefit of others and not self-promotion.

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