I have been accused (and sometimes rightly so) of buying gifts for others that I really wanted myself. The 3D printer that I “purchased for my kids” ended up being mostly used by me over the first couple of years. (My middle son is now the expert on his newer 3D printer, though, and I give him the designs when I need something printed.) Some new food storage containers that I “purchased for my wife” ended up being mainly for me to use (since I’m the one who often packages up leftovers after dinner).
These “gifts” weren’t bad, but it was disingenuous (albeit sometimes unintentionally) for me to pretend that they were for others, rather than for me. Similarly, if someone else gave a gift to a family member, and I ended up using it all for myself (without the gift recipient’s permission), that would be rude.
While studying “spiritual gifts” listed in 1 Corinthians 12, let’s consider why these were allocated to Christians in the first place, starting in verse 7 of that chapter.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
1 Corinthians 12:7 NIV
This is a confirmation that spiritual gifts aren’t about us. We wouldn’t be given the gift of healing just so that we can become famous. We wouldn’t be given the gift of prophecy for the sole purpose of getting rich from a book deal.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that manifestations of the Holy Spirit won’t ever attract attention. People followed Jesus because of the signs that He performed, for instance, but He pointed them to God, rather than to the signs themselves. In the same way, when the Holy Spirit works through followers of Jesus, we should also be pointing people to God. When our gifts merely attract people (or fame or fortune or Facebook friends) to ourselves, maybe these aren’t actually spiritual gifts, or maybe we’re not using them the way that they were intended.
Skipping over a “list” of spiritual gifts (more on that in the previous and next articles), let’s look at verse 11.
All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
1 Corinthians 12:11 NIV
Again, it is the Holy Spirit working in each of these, and He decides (not us) how these are to be allocated. If you wanted another gift (and trust me, there are definitely abilities that I wish that I had), it may be time to evaluate whether or not we trust God’s superior wisdom and plans over our own imagination and goals. In fact, the Holy Spirit knows better than us what is needed for the body of Christ, not to mention that He has sovereignty to make the decision and the power to grant these manifestations of…well, Himself. As a commentator put it, “…the kingdom of God is not a democracy…” [Oster, p.297].
So, as we consider what some of these gifts are, let’s think of them in light of how they can be used “for the common good”. That is, let’s remember that spiritual gifts are not about ourselves. They are from God and for His church. Sometimes, they may also benefit a lost world that needs to find hope in Jesus Christ, but I think that these gifts were meant to start within the body of Christ (i.e., the church).
In the next article, let’s take a look through examples of spiritual gifts, and see if each of them fit the criteria of 1) requiring the Holy Spirit’s help, 2) showing God working through His people, and 3) helping the common good.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for April 14, 2024
References:
- The Lookout, April 14, 2024, © 2024 Christian Standard Media.
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – 1 Corinthians, by Richard E. Oster, Jr. © 1995 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 