All gifts and talents come from God through the 3rd person of the Trinity, Holy Spirit. They are given for our use, for Gods’ glory, and the good of His Church. We were created in love by God to share them with our neighbor. The marginalized are always within His lens and in obedience to the command of Jesus we share our gifts with others. All things are to be done in and through His amazing grace and love given in Christ Jesus!
Without love we are just making noise.
Psalm 34:18 assures us, "The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." The nearness of God is our refuge (Psalm 73:28). First5
How strange we are in the world!
Only one response can maintain us:
gratefulness for the gift of our unearned chance to serve, to wonder, to love life and each other.
It is gratefulness which makes our small souls great.
Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
“Enjoy serving the Lord, and he will give you what you want” (Psalm 37:4 NCV).
What are my longings? When we submit to God’s plan, we can trust our desires. Our assignment is found at the intersection of God’s plan and our pleasures. So what do you love to do? What gives you a sense of satisfaction? You are a custom design; you are tailor-made. God prescribed your birth. Regardless of the circumstances that surrounded your arrival, you are not an accident. God planned you before you were born.
The longings of your heart, then, are not incidental; they are critical messages. The desires of your heart are not to be ignored; they are to be consulted. As the wind turns the weather vane, so God uses your passions to turn your life. God is too gracious to ask you to do something you hate. Max Lucado
Paul wrote 1 Corinthians to answer both letters and to give some additional instructions. He taught about decorum in worship services, the solemnity of the Lord’s Supper, and the place of spiritual gifts. Though the Corinthians were very gifted, in their immaturity and pride they had abused their gifts. Paul reminded the Corinthians that gifts come from God (12:11) and are to unify and edify the church (12:24, 25; 14:1–4).
1 Corinthians
12:11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
12:24 but our presentable parts have no need. God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
14:1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
The New King James Version
The Corinthian believers may have assumed that diversity in gifts meant diversity in access to the Spirit. The Spirit provides the spiritual gifts.
Presentable parts is likely referencing the leaders in the Corinthian community that are visible to people outside the community. Parts which lack represents the poorer believers in Corinth, to whom God gave an honored place within the church. Paul asserts that the wealthy believers must show consideration for the needs of the poorer believers, especially at the Lord’s Supper.
Paul’s teaching on spiritual gifts, including tongues, generally emphasizes the importance of using gifts to build up the faith of others. A prayer (angelic) language between a believer and God does not encourage the faith of those who cannot understand what is said; when used in public, an interpreter should be present.
Paul distinguishes between two different manifestations of the gift of tongues: speaking in unknown human languages and using spiritual or angelic languages. The purpose of Paul’s argument is that any use of tongues is meaningless if it doesn’t serve to encourage or build up others.
Speaking in a tongue refers to a language between a person and God that is unintelligible to others. For this reason, Paul promotes prophecy over tongues for the Corinthian church.
Faithlife Study Bible
God works in believers to benefit the entire body, not just the individual Christian. Various gifts are distributed to bring diversity among the unified body, even as a human body has many parts and functions.
The members should have the same care for one another because God gives spiritual gifts,“for the profit of all.” Rather than being envious of other people’s positions or gifts, we should give of ourselves to others. Whenever any part of the body has a need, we should minister and help that part.
The word translated pursue carries such meanings as “hasten,” “run,” “run after,” and “aspire to.” There are many things in life that we can simply take or leave, but love is not one of them.
The term prophesies here incorporates all speaking gifts that edify the church. Edification, exhortation, and comfort result from prophesying in the church. For this reason, Paul wanted the Corinthians to exercise the gift of prophecy instead of speaking in a tongue, by which a person merely edifies himself.
The NKJV Study Bible
1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Romans 14:19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
1 Corinthians 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 14:26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
1 Corinthians 14:39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.
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