QT 2/17/2025 1 Cor 1:9, Can we overemphasize spiritual gifts?

1 Corinthians 1:1–9 (ESV) —

1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,

2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

NOTE: One would think that this Church, which is blessed with spiritual gifts, has no problems. Paul is thankful for the "grace" (in the form of spiritual gifts) given. They are enriched in every way (all the gifts), specifically the gifts relating to speech and knowledge. They are not lacking any gift. Wow, sounds great, except that this is the church where Paul addresses the most problems of any church. They have been blessed and they have abused the gifts. They have the knowledge but did not see or understand how they were misusing the gifts. Paul praised this church for their having all the gifts, but he did not praise their behavior.

 

How can a church be so blessed and yet get it so wrong? Was it pride in the leadership? Was it an overemphasis on the visible gifts, like speaking in tongues that created division and opportunities to sin. Were the exercise of the visible gifts more important than loving one another?

 

In my previous Quiet Times, I was amazed that at the end of his life, how John had only two messages, truth and love. Truth is found in Jesus alone. Love is the duty of believers for whom Christ died. The Corinthian church had the spiritual gift of knowledge, but apparently weren't actually using it, or maybe, they were finding other sources of so-called "truth" to mix in. And I Corinthians 13 suggests that "love" was not a strength.

 

PONDER:

1. What is more important to me, the exercise of spiritual gifts (maybe so others can see my spirituality) or a commitment to truth and love?
2. Am I full of knowledge and gifts of speech, but live a poor example of Christ to others?

 

PRAYER: Father, I don't want to be a Pharisee. I don't want to be a person with "all the knowledge," but does not care for others. I don't need to be seen, I need to quietly serve and love others.