Wednesday, October 28 — Your Gift Isn't Just Yours
Think about everyone it takes to make a Sunday morning happen: the person who unlocks the doors, the one running the sound board, the usher with the peppermints, the cook in the kitchen. Not one of them can do the others' job, and the morning needs every one of them.
1 Corinthians 12:1-11 — KJV
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
1 Corinthians 12:1-11 — WEB
1 Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I don’t want you to be ignorant. 2 You know that when you were heathen, you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no man speaking by God’s Spirit says, “Jesus is accursed.” No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” but by the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord. 6 There are various kinds of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith, by the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the same Spirit; 10 and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of languages; and to another the interpretation of languages. 11 But the one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.
Explanation
Corinth was a busy port city, wealthy and status-conscious, and the church there carried some of that culture inside its walls. The believers were gifted, but they were also ranking each other. Some gifts looked more impressive, especially the dramatic ones, and the people who had them were starting to feel like first-class Christians.
Paul begins by reminding them where they came from. "Ye were... carried away unto these dumb idols." "Dumb" here means mute. Before they knew Christ, they served gods that could not say a word. Now they belonged to a God who speaks by His Spirit. And the first test of whether something truly comes from that Spirit is simple: does it lead people to say, "Jesus is Lord"? Any voice that pulls us away from Jesus, however spiritual it sounds, is not His.
Then Paul lays out a beautiful pattern. Different gifts, same Spirit. Different kinds of service, same Lord. Different workings, same God. There's variety in the church, but there's only one source. Nobody's gift is homemade.
Verse 7 is the key to the whole chapter. "The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal," or as the WEB puts it, "for the profit of all." Your gift is not a trophy. It is a tool for the common good. Wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, languages and their interpretation: each one is handed out by the Spirit "as he will," not as we earn.
Notice that "prophecy" and "discerning of spirits" are both on the list. God speaks, and God also gives His people the ability to recognize when He's speaking. That matters for Sunday's lesson, The Lord Calls Samuel. Samuel had the gift of hearing God's voice, but he needed Eli's gift of discernment to know what he was hearing. Two different people, two different gifts, and one God working through both of them.
For us, this cuts two ways. Some of us need to stop comparing. Your gift may never be on the program, and it still matters. The woman who calls the sick and shut-in every Tuesday is exercising the same Spirit as the preacher on Sunday. Others of us need to stop hoarding. If you have a gift of wisdom, it was not given so you could be the smartest person in the room. If you have resources, they weren't given just for your household. The question isn't "What's my gift worth?" It's "Who is my gift for?"
Thought for the Day
Your gift was never meant for you alone.
Reflection Question
Who has God put within your reach this week who could be helped by the gift He has given you?
Prayer
Holy Spirit, thank You for every gift You have placed in Your church, including the quiet ones. Forgive us for comparing ourselves and for keeping our gifts to ourselves. Show us who needs what You have given us. Use us for the good of all.
This week we walk toward Sunday's lesson: The Lord Calls Samuel.