Understandable Gifts
Greetings, my brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today we continue to receive clarification from Paul concerning the proper use of the spiritual gifts which are given to us by the Lord. He is specifically directing our attention to the proper use of the gift of speaking in tongues. As I've already stated in the past, of all the gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues is the one which is most often misunderstood and therefore misused. For many it is a litmus test for true faith, but here we see the apostle Paul directing the proper use of this gift and essentially relegating it well below those gifts which edify the body.
So now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? Even lifeless instruments that produce sounds—whether flute or harp—if they don’t make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized? In fact, if the bugle makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle? In the same way, unless you use your tongue for intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air. There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, none is without meaning. Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. So also you—since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church. 1 Corinthians 14:6-12
Paul sets in contrast speaking in tongues with no understanding on the part of the hearer with a musical instrument playing random notes which make no sense, or a bugle calling people to action that makes a sound no one recognizes. If it is just noise which is unintelligible then it is useless to the one who hears it. This is Paul's explanation of speaking in tongues to someone who does not understand the language in which you are speaking.
Paul is quick to uphold the value of every culture’s language when he says, There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, none is without meaning, but the issue he is addressing is different. He states clearly, Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me, which reveal the simple fact that he is speaking of actual known languages. Far too many people in the church have tried to make speaking in tongues something other than a recognized language of the world. Paul tells us that speaking in tongues as a gift of the spirit has a purpose, but that purpose is not valid if you're speaking in a language which no one present, hearing you, recognizes.
It is sad that even in the days of the apostles there were those individuals, and those churches, which sought the accolades of man rather than the approval of God. Corinth, because of its unique situation as a major trade center, was a very wealthy city. There were those who wanted to be in the “who's who” club. This mentality had already crept into the church and Paul is now addressing it. The public exhibition of spiritual gifts for personal glory makes a mockery of both the gift and the Giver of the gift. The Holy Spirit does not give spiritual gifts for the purpose of edifying the one with the gift, but that those who use their gifts would be enabled to edify others. This is why Paul ends this section with these words, So also you—since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church.
The spiritual gifts we should seek from God are those that are used to build up the church. While there are occasions when speaking in tongues could fall into this category, more precisely the gift of prophecy, the gift of healing, the gift of wisdom, the gift of hospitality, and so many others rank far above speaking in tongues when it comes to building up the church. The gift of tongues is primarily an evangelistic gift through which those who do not know Jesus and are of a different culture, may come to know Him as Lord and Savior.
May we ever be vigilant in seeking to bless one another, especially when it comes to using the spiritual gifts God has given for doing so. We are here to serve others, not ourselves. It is as more Christians take this truth to heart, that we can truly begin to become the church that Jesus died to establish.
In Christ,
Pastor Russ
Today we continue to receive clarification from Paul concerning the proper use of the spiritual gifts which are given to us by the Lord. He is specifically directing our attention to the proper use of the gift of speaking in tongues. As I've already stated in the past, of all the gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues is the one which is most often misunderstood and therefore misused. For many it is a litmus test for true faith, but here we see the apostle Paul directing the proper use of this gift and essentially relegating it well below those gifts which edify the body.
So now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? Even lifeless instruments that produce sounds—whether flute or harp—if they don’t make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized? In fact, if the bugle makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle? In the same way, unless you use your tongue for intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air. There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, none is without meaning. Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. So also you—since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church. 1 Corinthians 14:6-12
Paul sets in contrast speaking in tongues with no understanding on the part of the hearer with a musical instrument playing random notes which make no sense, or a bugle calling people to action that makes a sound no one recognizes. If it is just noise which is unintelligible then it is useless to the one who hears it. This is Paul's explanation of speaking in tongues to someone who does not understand the language in which you are speaking.
Paul is quick to uphold the value of every culture’s language when he says, There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, none is without meaning, but the issue he is addressing is different. He states clearly, Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me, which reveal the simple fact that he is speaking of actual known languages. Far too many people in the church have tried to make speaking in tongues something other than a recognized language of the world. Paul tells us that speaking in tongues as a gift of the spirit has a purpose, but that purpose is not valid if you're speaking in a language which no one present, hearing you, recognizes.
It is sad that even in the days of the apostles there were those individuals, and those churches, which sought the accolades of man rather than the approval of God. Corinth, because of its unique situation as a major trade center, was a very wealthy city. There were those who wanted to be in the “who's who” club. This mentality had already crept into the church and Paul is now addressing it. The public exhibition of spiritual gifts for personal glory makes a mockery of both the gift and the Giver of the gift. The Holy Spirit does not give spiritual gifts for the purpose of edifying the one with the gift, but that those who use their gifts would be enabled to edify others. This is why Paul ends this section with these words, So also you—since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church.
The spiritual gifts we should seek from God are those that are used to build up the church. While there are occasions when speaking in tongues could fall into this category, more precisely the gift of prophecy, the gift of healing, the gift of wisdom, the gift of hospitality, and so many others rank far above speaking in tongues when it comes to building up the church. The gift of tongues is primarily an evangelistic gift through which those who do not know Jesus and are of a different culture, may come to know Him as Lord and Savior.
May we ever be vigilant in seeking to bless one another, especially when it comes to using the spiritual gifts God has given for doing so. We are here to serve others, not ourselves. It is as more Christians take this truth to heart, that we can truly begin to become the church that Jesus died to establish.
In Christ,
Pastor Russ
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