The same Spirit that causes men to confess that Jesus is Lord is the same Spirit that gives them spiritual gifts. In 1 Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul stated that “no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:3). He goes on to say that there are different spiritual gifts. Yet, the same Lord administers the gifts, which are given for the profit of all, as written in 1 Corinthians 12:7: “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each other for the profit of all.”
Verses eight through eleven list the spiritual gifts. Those gifts are the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, the discerning of spirits, different kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. These gifts are given at God’s will and for God’s purpose. It is for the edification of the Body of Christ.
Paul wrote that the Body of Christ is one body but with many members. This elementary analogy is easy to grasp since everyone has a body. We know that all our body parts work together so that we can function well in our daily activities. If one part of our body suffers, it negatively affects our functionality.
The same is true of the members of the Body of Christ. When one suffers, all suffer. When one part is missing, the remaining parts will not operate at its highest capacity. Gifts are missing when members of the body are missing. The body isn’t edified to completion when members and their spiritual gifts are absent.
It’s worth remembering that we are not members of the body of our own accord. We did not will ourselves into becoming members. God called us. We heard the good news, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and by faith, we are His. Verse eighteen states, “But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.”
If it pleased God to set members within the body, it also pleased Him when He administered the gifts to the body. Wouldn’t we displease God if we disassociate from the body He placed us in? Wouldn’t it displease Him if we didn’t edify the body with the gifts He gave us?
Neglecting our placement within the body and the gifts allocated to us is to ignore God's handiwork. May we all work within the body according to our gifting while understanding that no member is greater than the next. Paul says that members that seem to be weaker are necessary. This applies to our natural bodies as well.
When we think of our bodies, some parts may seem pointless. A pinky-toe may not seem as valuable as an ear, but both are necessary for balance. Teeth may not seem as valuable as the mind, but the mind needs nutrients to function—which comes from the food we chew with our teeth. All parts are necessary. Paul wrote, “God composed the body” and that “there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.” (1 Corinthians 12:24-25).
Harmony was the goal. Schisms or divisions happen within the body when we do not consider all members equally important. This is precisely what happened within the Corinthian Church. In the first few chapters of First Corinthians, we see that the believers at the church in Corinth esteemed their leaders above others. They incorrectly gloated about being baptized by Paul, Apollos, or Peter because they viewed the apostles as greater than other members.
Often, we do the same thing today. We esteem ministers, elders, pastors, and teachers in higher regard than those who are “weaker”. Though the title of apostle, preacher, or teacher may come with more responsibility, it does not come with more importance. All are called by God; therefore, all are necessary.
Paul then listed those who were appointed within the church. Apostles, prophets, and teachers were appointed by God. Miracles, the gifts of healing, help, administration, and varieties of tongues were also appointed. Paul asked, “Are all apostles? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?” to emphasize that everyone does not operate in the same capacity. We all have different anointings given by the same Spirit.
We should all desire spiritual gifts, as Paul stated, and we should bear in mind that these gifts are for the profit of all, which also means ‘for the common good,’ ‘for the benefit of all,’ and ‘so that we can help each other,’ per different biblical translations. The gifts are not solely for spreading the gospel to the world. They are also for strengthening one another in the faith.
Because one member preaches, we are edified. Because another member teaches, we are encouraged to press forward. Because another member shares wisdom, we gain insight. We all benefit when we all freely give our gifts to one another, and certainly, God is glorified for assigning the gifts according to His purpose, power, and infinite wisdom. May we praise God for the allocation of these gifts and may we operate in His will for the profit of all.
Thank you for reading this week's Write On! Wednesday article. Check out the website for more articles or visit www.amazon.com/author/quinarrington if interested in Christian fiction or nonfiction.
May God bless you and keep you.
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