Continuing in a study of 1 Corinthians 13, once we understand the relationship between spiritual gifts and love (see 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and the previous article), this isn’t meant to be something for us to judge others about. That knowledge isn’t meant to be a source of arrogance or pride. We can help others grow in their faith, and teach them this same lesson, but the next couple of verses suggest a certain expectation of Christian maturity.
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
1 Corinthians 13:11-12 NIV
(By the way, my understanding is that first-century mirrors weren’t that good. Think about a manually hammered and polished metal plate, for instance. I might try to see my reflection in the screen of my smartphone screen when it’s off, since I’m not practiced enough to quickly open “selfie mode”, but it’s dim and smudgy at best.)
We might think of maturity (specifically, maturity in understanding the superiority of love over an unloving use of our gifts) this way: Little kids think that it’s great to get a new toy or a piece of candy. They are mainly consumers, and that’s OK. However, when someone grows up and becomes an adult, we expect them to understand the bigger picture: like appreciating that money should be earned in order to be spent (even on candy!), that there’s only so much money to go around, that we don’t need to get everything that we want, and that too much of some of the things we want (like candy) isn’t good for us. Many adults also learn to appreciate the joy of giving, rather than only getting.
When this letter that we call 1 Corinthians was originally written to Christians in the city of Corinth, they were still acting – in part – like their old selves, before they met Jesus. At least some of them apparently still thought about allegiance to specific leaders, or what they could get out of the gifts that God had given them.
For new believers, that might be understandable, but it was time for them to start growing up. Part of this maturity would include learning the truths that Paul provided in this letter. Another part of this maturity, though, was to start to think about the bigger picture. None of the Corinthian Christians were the center of the church, and it was time for them to act like part of a larger body, rather than selfish individuals trying to get ahead on their own (or creating divisions with others in the church).
Some people alternatively – or additionally – interpret these verses as indicating that our entire time here on earth is a level of immaturity, when we cannot attain the level of understanding of God that we look forward to after Jesus’ return. In this context, while we should still strive towards Christian maturity, this entire age (of the church) is child-like, compared to what we anticipate in eternity. [Ref. Oster, p.310]
In one example of immaturity, the Corinthian church apparently suffered from divisions, whether in who they said that they followed, or in who got what gift, or how they used their gifts from the Holy Spirit.
Today, the church still has people who are more concerned about the name on the front of the building where they attend, or who another follower of Jesus voted for, or other things that aren’t actually related to whether or not a fellow human being – created in God’s image – is saved from their sins and is growing in their walk with Jesus.
Similarly, the church still has people who think that they are better than others because of a gift they received from the Holy Spirit, or – in another misunderstanding – think that they aren’t a valuable part of the body of Christ because they don’t have a certain role (and therefore they believe that don’t have to take an active role in the church).
Ideally, we would all recognize the unity that Jesus sought among His disciples, and use whatever gifts, opportunities, talents, skills, experience, and opportunities that God provides us for the good of the kingdom of God. However, even if we got to that point, we would still be missing out if we didn’t prioritize loving each other.
So, perhaps the answer isn’t to start with a so-called “Spiritual Gifts Assessment”, or to compare ourselves to others. Maybe the answer is to start by loving our neighbor, starting in the church but not stopping there, and then watch the unity of the body naturally flow from that. I believe that love can probably be shown to others without the use of spiritual gifts, but spiritual gifts are squandered – or at least underutilized – if not used in love.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for April 21, 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 