Ramblings on What We Share: The Greatest Gift

And yet I will show you the most excellent way.  If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. I Corinthians 12:31b-13:3

 

Why is it when you receive a gift that it’s the person who gave it rather than the object received that makes it special? On my shelf in my office are trinkets given to me by various people throughout my life. A German shot glass given to me by old Mrs. Murphy who used to run a party barn near the farm where I grew up. A tiny music box given to me by my friend Terry after his wife died as a memento of kindness I had shown her. It is the love and affection shared with people that make their gifts most precious.

 

The same could be said of the gifts we receive from the Holy Spirit. No spiritual gift, whether tongues, faith, prophecy or giving, can match the value of the love the triune God demonstrates to us by giving the gifts. And no level of excitement or fulfillment that we experience when used by God should ever compare to the depth, height and breadth of our love for God, our loving Father, Savior, and Comforter.

 

Spiritual gifts only gain value when demonstrated in and through love. Unless they are an expression of our compassion and kindness to those around us, they have little benefit. The most excellent way Paul describes is the way of the heart. Regardless of whether we are greatly gifted or feel we have no gift to share, every one of us can show love and that gains everything.

Ramblings on What We Share: Meeting Peoples’ Needs

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts. I Corinthians 12:27-31a

 

Nature itself tells us that each species has different strengths. The leopard has speed. The turtle has protection. The wolf has a pack. Most species use their strength for self-preservation. Mankind is distinct in that God has given us supernatural strength through the Holy Spirit to be used for the preservation of others. The apostle is only effective if he has someone to lead. The prophet is only beneficial if there is someone to receive and benefit from his prophecies. The healer can’t exercise his gift if there is no one sick.

 

Paul tells us to eagerly desire these gifts, not because it will make us great in the eyes of others, but because these are the gifts the world needs the most. There is no shortage of lost, wandering souls looking for someone to show them the way. Flocks of people turn every day to palm readers and psychics because they need to know that which is unknowable by human wisdom. Hospitals are bursting with those who are hurt or struck with illness.

 

Jesus met these needs of mankind during His ministry. The multitudes followed Him because he spoke as one who has authority (Matt. 7:29). When He prophesied, they would ask, “When will these things be?” (Matt. 24:3). When He saw the sick being brought to Him, He had compassion on them and healed every last one (Matt. 12:15, 14:14).

 

God the Father appointed Jesus to these good works and He has a work for us as well. It should be our greatest wish and prayer to be able to follow Jesus’ example by providing for the needs of the people around us.

 

Ramblings on What We Share: All for One, One for All

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.  

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 

I Corinthians 12:12-26

The Body of Christ is one. Every follower of Jesus Christ is brought into unity with all Christians everywhere as those born of the Spirit (John 3:5-8). Race, status, gender and perceived usefulness do not factor in determining one’s inclusion or importance in the Body.

Each one in the Body is equally important and equally dependent on others in the Body. We are also equally responsible to look after and show concern for each other. The Body needs all of its members to make their contribution to the benefit of the whole Body. We share in each others’ sufferings and joys. We share what we have to give and depend on other members to do the same for us when we need it.

Ramblings On What We Share: One Spirit

Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,  to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

I Corinthians 12:1-11

There is only one Spirit – not many. In most pagan religions multiple gods or spirits are given reverence. Christianity, Paul says, is different. There is only one God and only one Spirit. The one God is a Trinity, which includes Jesus Christ, who is the Lord. The Trinity also includes the Holy Spirit – the one and only Spirit.

This Spirit works through various manifestations among mankind by giving believers gifts, services and workings. He gives them to each person according to His determination of what that person needs. Each gift, service or working is from the same God.

The test of whether a manifestation is from that God is whether it glorifies Jesus Christ. Any manifestation that speaks against Jesus is not from God. The second test is whether the manifestation works for the common good of the whole group. There is no place for selfishness nor pride in the work of the Holy Spirit. The very nature of the Holy Spirit shows us this as He deflects all glory for His work to Christ.

Ramblings on What We Share: No Cliques

In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.

So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment. And when I come I will give further directions.                                 I Corinthians 11:17-34

The world is full of cliques – groups of people who are exclusive to themselves and resistant to inviting others into their circle. In this passage, Paul says there is no place for cliques in the church. When the Body of Christ gathers, all should be equally welcome. Hospitality is key for the church. We are to be looking out for the interests of others (Phil. 2:4).

This doesn’t mean we can’t have special friends. It just means that the time and place to meet exclusively with those friends is in our homes and on our own time.

Jesus died for the world. Everyone in it is welcome at His house and deserving of equal consideration. To do otherwise is to violate the heart of what Jesus death was all about.

Ramblings on What We Share: Girl Power

 I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you. But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.

A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.

Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.  I Corinthians 11:2-16

Some people say that this passage demeans women. Yet we know, deep in our hearts, that it is not in God’s nature to demean anyone. He has shown himself in Scripture to be one who raises up the humble and show favor to the small and weakest among mankind.

In these verses we see that women are given a place of great importance. We women have authority. We have a special position with the angels, even though the nature of that remains a mystery to us. We are the mothers of men. Best of all, we have a place in God’s leadership order.

If we look at the order of headship discussed in this passage, we see that a so-called “lower” level is not a place of being less. Surely Christ is not less than God the Father. If so, the doctrine of the Trinity is a farce. Yet Christ willingly submitted himself to the Father’s will saying that the Son “can do only what he sees his Father doing” (John 5:19). And Christ clearly taught His disciples that they were His brothers and sisters (Matt. 12:47-50) and joint heirs with Him (Rom. 8:17). Yet Christian men and women willingly submit themselves to the will of Jesus Christ.

Now, as we consider this pattern, we can see that women are equal to men in God’s eyes (verse 11). Yet, we women can choose to be respectful of our husbands, Christ, and God by submitting our wills to theirs. And something quite powerful happens when we do that – there is order.

As women, we seem to have a God-given ability to bring unity and peace or to sow discord and division. Apparently the angels prefer things to be peaceful and orderly as they seem to do when women exercise their authority properly.