A More Excellent Way
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:31
Chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians, the epic text on love, wasn’t written for insertion in the “Minister’s Marriage Manual,” although it certainly can be appropriately used in a wedding ceremony. It was written within the context of Paul dealing with questions surrounding the use of spiritual gifts in the service of the local church.
In Corinth, spiritual gifts which were meant for the good and edification of the church were being abused in ways that brought division, not unity, and confusion not peace. Paul suggests that the Corinthians were correct in assuming that some spiritual gifts are worth desiring, but he puts an important caveat on that concession. That’s what he means by “I will show you a more excellent way.” What they were going after wasn’t necessarily wrong. It was how they were going after it that created the problems.
What was the more excellent way? That’s where chapter 13 steps in. Paul begins by demonstrating that the use of spiritual gifts without a heart of love is powerless and pointless. He then goes on to give that classic description of love in verses four through seven. Sometimes our chapter divisions can make us miss important points in the text. This is one of them because 14:1 is the summary of everything Paul had just written:
Pursue love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts…
Love is something to be pursued. Gifts are something to be desired. There is a difference there. The Corinthians were pursuing gifts and when you are pursuing gifts, meaning the possession and practice of some spiritual gift is your primary focus, you will end up abusing that gift and those among whom you seek to exercise it.
Here’s a practical example of what this might look like: Let’s suppose a young man desires to pastor a church. He has his heart set on it and sets out to make it happen. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It can be a good thing. Paul said as much when he told Timothy that aspiring to be an elder in the church is a noble thing (1 Timothy 3:1). But now imagine that this young man’s pursuit of a pastoral position is divorced from any obligation to love the people he will pastor. How do you think he will do? Since he is pursuing a gift or an office and not love, he most likely won’t be patient, kind, humble, or gracious. He will instead be irritable, resentful, impatient, and selfishly demanding of his way. Why? Because he isn’t pursuing love.
I don’t think it is easy for us to desire something without making it our number one pursuit. We need God’s grace in the help, strength, and wisdom of the Holy Spirit to be able to pursue love first and foremost when we are desirous of some spiritual gift. The difference will be that when we pursue love, we make the gift a way to serve others in love. But when we pursue the gift, we will make it a way to use others to exalt ourselves.
This was really good and something to meditate on; I'm asking God to search my heart and motives, I'm seeking his love and guidance toward HIS perfection and plans for me, I'm grateful for the assurance of his promise of forgiveness when we acknowledge and repent of our sins and shortcomings In the Name of Jesus.
Very convicting. Looking back, I feel that I pursued the office instead of the gift of love. Consequently, disaster followed. Thankful for God's forgiveness.