Less Can Be More
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 14:19
Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
In context, Paul is correcting the abuse of spiritual gifts. Specifically, here he is dealing with speaking in tongues. The basis for his statement in verse 19 goes back to chapter 13, the “love chapter.” Let me explain. Chapter 14 begins with the exhortation that we are to “pursue love.” That is the logical conclusion drawn from the exposition on the excellency of love in chapter 13.
One way we pursue love is in how we use our spiritual gifts. Concerning prophecy, Paul says the proclamation of God’s word is meant to build up, encourage, and console others (14:3). The person who loves others is motivated to proclaim God’s word for those ends. That is the kind of thing they are aiming for. Jumping forward now, when Paul says in 14:19 that he “would rather speak five words with [his] mind in order to instruct others,” he says it in this larger context of being motivated by love.
You’ve heard of people who love to hear themselves talk. Those kinds of people are motivated by the desire to impress. They want to be praised. Paul wants us to be motivated by love. He wants us to be helpful; to build up, encourage, and console others. To be able to do this with our words is a wonderful gift. But it is not the volume of words that accomplishes the task. It is the care with which we choose our words.
Words can be like finely sharpened arrows in an archer’s quiver; selected and strung on the bow; sent forth to pierce the heart of a specifically selected target. Or they can be like a big handful of rocks that are scooped randomly from the ground and thrown indiscriminately about, more likely to bruise the flesh than penetrate the heart.
When it comes to our words, less is usually more.