1st Corinthians
Chapter 12
Commentary by Ron Beckham
Verse 1. "Now concerning
spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:"
Actually, it's concerning "spirituals"
or "things spiritual" --- the word "gifts" is not in the Greek.
However, the CONTEXT does indicate spiritual "gifts" are being
discussed. The interesting thing about the "gifts" of the Spirit is
that we ARE ignorant about them. We may TALK about them a lot, but we
do not use them very often, and when they are used, they are often
MIS-used. But, as Paul indicates, he does not (and the Holy Spirit does
not) intend for us to remain in ignorance. These gifts are given to the
Church for a purpose - they are given to us because He loves
us. They are given so that we might love one another. They are given
out of His love for the Body of Christ.
Since this chapter is about "spiritual
gifts," let’s lay a foundation for them. I believe that what we have
been exposed to about the "gifts" of the Spirit is often distorted, even
inaccurate. On television and in literature, many of us have seen the
"gifts" in a grandiose state: People keeling over from a touch on the
head; speaking in apparently intelligible words; a youth flinging away
crutches, while a nearby older person shrieks "He can walk!" The
preceding is a large, dramatic view, exercised by those who are
sometimes true in what they say and do, and sometimes not.
There is another aspect of the gifts,
which seems smaller and less significant, at first, but is actually the
greater view of them:
For years, I lived in Tucson, Arizona.
The vegetation there is beautiful, dominated by the giant saguaro
cactus. These giants with uplifted "arms" weigh several tons each. We
all noticed that many of them were dying. The healthy green was
replaced by a sickly brown and the magnificent "arms" (which could be
viewed as uplifted in praise to God) often sagged terribly. When we
talked about them, we decided some disease had infected them - perhaps
it was the pollution. But, as reported in a recent "Daily Bread"
article, the mystery has been solved: Scientists have discovered that
for the first 20- to 30-years of a saguaro’s life, it needs a "nurse
plant" such as a palo verde or mesquite tree to shade it in the summer
and provide winter warmth. Grazing and mining had destroyed the nurse
plants, leaving the young saguaros unable to survive.
I believe a lot of what the spiritual
gifts are supposed to do is much like the nurse plants - we are to
nurture one another in the power and love of God. People often don’t
see or recognize the value of "nurse plants" in the world, but God
does. Paul is going to discuss a FEW of the gifts in this chapter, and
we will examine them from the perspective that they are usually
possessed by simple and ordinary people, doing plain (from our
standpoint) things with them that do not make the newspapers. Even if
reporters knew about them, they would be considered to NOT be
newsworthy. Yet they are ESSENTIAL from God’s perspective and I think
His perceptions are much better than ours.
Verse 2. "You know
that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you
were led."
Without Christ, we tend to be led away
by just about everything that comes into our path. The statue of Isis
in the ruined temple at Pompeii, shows this very well: The hidden
stairs (by which the priest secretly mounted to the back of the statue),
can still be seen. And the head of the statue shows the tube which went
from the back of the head to the parted lips. Through this tube, the
priest concealed behind the statue spoke the so-called "answers" of
Isis. This "Isis" was a fake and so were the "priests" who spoke for
her. Many of the local Gentiles, probably most of them, were led astray
by such devices.
We are carried away by a lot of "dumb
idols" in our lives. We have already seen in previous studies that lots
of things can be idolatrous: TV, a computer, the Internet, a sexual
partner, drugs such as alcohol --- anything or anyone we turn to for
COMFORT (instead of turning to God in our need). Anything or anyone we
turn to for ANSWERS to our problems (instead of Him). We tend to be just
as dumb as the Corinthians. (Praise God, we have HIM to Lead us
through).
Chuck Smith, the pastor, gave an
excellent exposition of Psalms 115, many years ago, when he came and
spoke to us at Southern California College: It was pointed out that
idols have mouths but do not speak, eyes but cannot see, ears but do not
hear, noses but do not smell, hands but do not handle, feet but do not
walk, etc. --- The Psalm continues: Those who make them are LIKE them;
& so is everyone who trusts in them. You could add that we have brains
but we often do not use them. Idolatry - Why would we turn to "things"
for comfort when we can have Almighty God Who loves us?
Actually, when we turn to Him, He often
does give us physical "things" that are necessary in our lives. He will
bring a car to the one who needs one. I know that from experience. To
those of us who are "single" I propose a test for ourselves. As God
leads, let us not seek a spouse. I suggest it is better to
remain alone than for US, driven by emotions alone to make decisions
that affect not only our own lives, but the lives of others as well.
God may well intervene and find just that person - or He may have other
uses for us, in which we would remain single. Does He LEAD us, even in
things like marriage? Single person, let’s give this part of our lives
COMPLETELY to God!
Verse 3. "There I make
known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus
accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy
Spirit."
Anyone can say the words,
whether "accursed" or "Lord". Words can be said either for or against
Him --- But that is not what is really being discussed here. It is the
heart of the person and the gift of the Lord, that Paul is
talking about. Remember that the context is about using the spiritual
"gifts"... These Corinthians had seen a lot of strange things happen -
and they had written to Paul, asking "What on earth do these things
mean, Paul?" This book (letter) is his answer.
I remember a particular man in a church
that met in a private home. The local group utilized the "gifts" as
part of the worship service. I remember that when this man used his
specific "gift," His statements and behavior were questionable. He used
"tongues" among other "gifts" that just did not seem "right" to those
who heard him. By his words and his conduct, he did not glorify our
Lord. It was not so surprising (though it WAS shocking) to learn that
he later claimed to be demon-possessed - by a demon he said was named
"Power." There are many among us who are true to our Lord - there are
others who are not.
If we are truly in Christ (and He is in
us), then we have also received His Holy Spirit. We WILL see a
manifestation of the Spirit if He is within us. The Spirit of God
ALWAYS glorifies the Son of God. If someone claims to have some kind of
"gift" but it puts our Lord down in some way (or leads you away from
Him), it is not a gift of the Holy Spirit.
Verse 4. "Now there
are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit."
In the "natural" realm, we’re all
different, physically and mentally. Some think better than others.
Some are leaders and many are not. There are those who just KNOW what’s
wrong (and how to fix it) in relation to mechanical gadgets, like cars.
Some can jump, others can run. A few can LIFT more than anybody else.
There are leaders among us but we are not all leaders. We’re all
different but we’re all PEOPLE.
A similar diversity exists in the Body
of Christ, the Church. All in Christ are given gifts that perform
specific and needed functions. One just KNOWS something that others do
not have any idea about. Another can speak wisdom into a troubled
situation. Someone can pray "like an angel" or have faith beyond all
expectations. Yet all these are varieties of manifestations given by
the ONE Holy Spirit of God.
Verse 5. "There are
differences of ministries, but the same Lord."
And we are given different ministries
as well. Two people might have identical gifts but the context of their
lives will cause them to be expressed differently. Teaching is an
example. In its true sense, "teaching" does not depend at all on
"cleverness" in preparing lessons. The true gift rests in the presence
of the Lord in the teacher - it is the Holy Spirit who gives the gift
and is the REALITY of that which is taught. The reality will be shown
in the preparation (God will meet you as you prepare), the delivery by
the speaker, and He will ready the hearts of those who hear. Yet it
(the gift) will not be EXPRESSED the same to a class of fifth graders as
it is to a room of adults, or to the elderly patients in a Convalescent
home. The ministries WILL differ, yet they are from the One Lord.
Verse 6. "And there
are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in
all."
The different gifts will cause us to do
differing things. The one with the gift of healing will often be seen
in a hospital, praying for the sick. The teacher will be most often
found in his study, working early and late to fine-tune that which he
will share. The prophet speaks the mind and heart of God, and may well
be found in an assembly of prayer - he or she goes to a certain person
and speaks the answer of God to the need of a person. The one who has
"interpretation of tongues" can never fully use that gift unless they
are often within a place such as an "afterglow" service, where some of
the attendees will pray in tongues. Tongues are prayer; the
interpreter will reveal the nature of that prayer, and then the prophet
will give God’s answer to the need of the one who prays.
The "knowledge" person is likely to
found in the home of a friend, LISTENING to their concerns, waiting for
the opportunity to reveal something that never occurred to the other,
concerned-person about their problem.
Verse 7. "But the
manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:"
The gifts are not given just for you or
just for me. They are not some private possession that we carry-around
in a box and only open when we are alone. If I have a gift, it is for
you. If you have something of God to share, it will be for all of us.
Yes, it is scary to publicly share that which God has placed into our
hearts. I am a very ordinary man, who has grown up with many fears - a
dislike of rejection is certainly one of them. I am also (like the rest
of us) flawed and subject to error. God does reveal much to our hearts
but we often don’t "hear" correctly. Often human bias will color what
we say and do. Pride is a factor in much of what goes wrong in our
gifts and in our lives.
But read this verse carefully: "The
manifestation of the Spirit is given to EACH ONE" (that’s ALL who are in
Christ) and it is for "the profit of all" (that’s EVERYBODY). Every one
of us is given a unique treasure that we must, that we are IMPELLED to
give away. It’s because of love. God loves us so much that He shares
with us of His Almighty Power and Glory --- are we going to clutch this
wonder to ourselves, or are we going to share it with our neighbor?
Our friend? The person in need? Of course we will share.
It’s like I have more than enough and I
learn you are in need - Do I share with you? WHY do I have "more than
enough?" It is because God gave it to me. WHY did He give it to me?
Partly because He, who knows the future, knew you would need it. The
answer is YES I share with you. So it is with the "spiritual gifts" -
they are given to people like you and me, because of His recognition of
the need of people in YOUR future (that you might not have even met - as
yet). God loves YOU and God loves them. That is why He gives the gifts
of the Holy Spirit.
Verse 8. "for to one
is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of
knowledge through the same Spirit,"
WORD OF WISDOM. So, let’s look at the
"Word of Wisdom." It says "word" and not just "wisdom" - It is the
outward expression of GOD’s wisdom in relation to a situation or need
within the Body of Christ. In the Greek, "Word" is "Logos" and "Wisdom"
is "Sophia" from which we get the English "Sophisticated." If you look
up "Sophist" or "Sophisticated" or "Sophisticate" in "Webster’s New
Collegiate Dictionary", you might be surprised. (Times and words
change). The definitions include "to alter deceptively…worldly wise…
cleverness" etc. It can also mean "highly complicated…complex" and
generally refers to "worldly" in nature. In our language (which
reflects our thoughts and our culture), to be "wise" is to be "clever,"
utilizing human solutions for complex needs. A "smart cookie" who can
solve your problems.
This is NOT the way with God’s Gift.
"God has chosen the foolish things (people) of the world to put to shame
the wise" (1 Cor. 1:27). We tend to think the person who says wise
things is therefore wise. Not necessarily so. It has been apparent,
down through the years, that God is NOT apt to take the person with
natural gifts and simply ENLARGE them (though sometimes He does this) –
He takes the person with no discernible wisdom at all, and makes them
wise in CERTAIN SITUATIONS, as God Leads. He does this with ALL in the
Body of Christ (if we are willing to receive His wisdom), and yet there
are those who are given His wisdom OFTEN - and those we would
observe are given the gift of "Word of Wisdom."
A good Scriptural example of the Word
of Wisdom, is at the "Jerusalem Council" in the Book of Acts chapter
15. "Certain men" wanted to put us all under Jewish law. Paul and
Barnabas testified about the "miracles and wonders God had worked
through them among the Gentiles" (with no Jewish law needed). Even so,
the Council was going nowhere, until James stood up and delivered a
"Word of Wisdom" that satisfied everyone (Acts 15:13-21 along with verse
22 & forward). Only God can give us lasting love for one another, and
agreement in our midst, for we like to be divided by OUR "wisdom". An
excellent "Old" Testament example of the gift is Solomon and the
"divided baby" in 1 Kings 3:16-27. The Book of Ecclesiastes seems clear
that Solomon actually became very unwise in his personal life –
Such wisdom as he had came from God.
WORD OF KNOWLEDGE. I lived with the
gift of "Word of Knowledge" for many years, for my wife had that gift.
She was not naturally any more knowledgeable than other people, but,
much like "wisdom" God gave her "knowledge" in certain situations for
the benefit of those around her (and also as a blessing for her). A
good example is one I have used before in these studies - she saw right
through my daughter. Not all the time but as God led her; so she saw.
I remember standing in the hallway of
our home in Cypress, while my wife confronted her. My daughter denied
what was being said, over-and-over again. My wife persisted. I was
examining the evidence in my mind, was concluding "This is enough" and
actually had my mouth open to put a stop to all of this, when my
daughter broke-down and confessed. My wife KNEW, not on the human
evidence, but because God had revealed the truth --- actually for the
benefit of my daughter. For it is part of what this "Word" will do, is
to lead us to honest repentance. This is not the only example of what
my wife did - there were many examples, and I am convinced my daughter
is the fine Christian person she is today, partly because God brought
this gift of the Holy Spirit into our home.
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are often
in operation within "small" contexts - within a family, the pat on the
back to a friend, the words of encouragement. When they are from God,
they heal --- often in small ways to the world, but in large ways to the
person who receives the benefit of them.
Verse 9. "to another
faith by the same spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same
Spirit,"
FAITH. Now, we all have faith or we
would not be Christians. Actually, everyone has faith in something or
other, whether Christians or not. If I did not have faith my car would
probably start, I would not try to start it. Some do not have faith
that planes will stay in the air and they do not fly. As Hannah Whitall
Smith said, "I must have faith the cook has not put poison in the
coffee, and is not serving diseased food, or I could not eat in
restaurants." The person who has not been to China must have faith or
they would not believe that country exists! So faith in something is
common to all. Faith in God is more rare but still there are many who
do trust in Him.
Faith includes the understanding of a
matter not relying on appearances. I compare faith to eating, which for
me is not based on taste. I try to make decisions about what to eat,
because of what will be valuable to my body. So with faith – Trust in
God is not based on externals but faith that He WILL deliver the Body of
Christ.
As to the "Gift of Faith" the best
example in Scripture is our Lord Jesus (He Himself trusted like no one
else). Peter caught a glimpse of that kind of faith while walking
briefly on the water, but like most of us, he quickly sank. This "gift"
is a lot like seeing. How do I know it’s there?--Because I SEE it. How
do I KNOW in faith?--Because God has revealed in faith to me.
GIFTS OF HEALINGS. Notice this is
plural. The gift will take different forms in different people. The
word "healings" is "iamaton" which means "cures" or "being made whole."
A form of the word was used in the context of Acts 9, where a helpful
lady named Tabitha, sickened and DIED. Peter prayed and the lady
became very much alive. (The various forms of the word are used many
times in connection with both physical and spiritual healings).
Another place a form of "cures" is used, is in Matthew 15:28, where a
lady’s daughter is delivered from being "severely demon-possessed."
I have seen this gift used many times
through the years, by a number of people. Inevitably, like the gift of
"faith" the person with the gift is shown something that other people do
not see. What they are shown, however, is something specifically
regarding the physical, mental or even spiritual health of another
person. It is very seldom seen in the dramatic fashion as portrayed
seen on TV. Mostly it’s just a lady praying for a sick child, or a
doctor who has the gift praying for a patient, or someone who prays for
people he or she doesn’t even know, as the Lord leads them to pray. Not
outwardly dramatic; just God’s love in action.
Verse 10. "to another
the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of
spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the
interpretation of tongues."
WORKING OF MIRACLES. There is a brief
definition of this gift in the Book of Acts, indicating there is
cross-over of activities between at least some of the gifts. In Acts
19:11-12, we find Paul in Ephesus, where "God worked unusual MIRACLES by
the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought
from his body to the sick and the diseases left them and the evil
spirits went out of them." Two areas are seen here, sickness and demon
possession, which we have seen also can be addressed by gifts of
healings. In Acts 8:13, it is associated with the laying on of hands so
that someone receives the gift of the Holy Spirit.
DIFFERENT KINDS OF TONGUES. "Tongues"
is simply a form of prayer. It is nothing mysterious and it is not
intended to be frightening. Like other methods of prayer, it may be an
expression of praise (of God), supplication (asking Him to supply a
need), confession, intercession (praying for others), or thanksgiving.
It is simply the Holy Spirit, gently praying in and through the person
for a need perceived by God. Like "healings" the gift will take
different forms in different people.
INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES. I can speak
with confidence about "Interpretation of tongues" for I have seen this
gift first hand, many times. It is often not previously wanted or
expected by the one who receives it; but suddenly it is just there. In
an "afterglow" type of service you will receive English words which
interpret praise, thanksgiving, and even confession. The latter is
really a surprise, when first it is experienced. The correct order in a
service seems to be: 1) Tongues (prayer), which will
be followed by 2) an interpretation of the statement
made to God, in tongues, and in turn it will be followed by 3)
a prophesy, which is God’s answer to the expressed need.
Verse 11. "But one and
the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one
individually as He wills."
Simon Magus, in the Book of Acts
(8:9-24), thought this life in the Spirit is a "human" or "people"
thing. Something that could be bought with money. But it is not—When
you go and see Billy Graham and are drawn to go forward, it is the
Spirit, not Billy Graham, Who draws you. It is the same Holy Spirit
that distributes "gifts" to the people of God. It is important to note
that He distributes "as He wills." That is, each one of us receives as
God chooses for our lives.
Now, not all manifestations or
activities in such contexts are from the Lord. Some are demonic
counterfeits and others are just humans acting out odd behavior. The
true gifts are often gentle, low-key, wholesome and presented with
dignity. That which is true is ALWAYS from the same Holy Spirit who
speaks to us of the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. Note that it
is not your decision or mine what "gifts" we might have. We are born
into this world with physical benefits and also limitations, and just
like it is God’s choice whether our eyes are brown or blue, the Spirit
chooses what spiritual tools will be given. As He wills, not as you
will. But like the chapter concludes, He is pleased when you ASK for
the "higher" gifts, and will often give them to you. Just because He
loves you.
Verse 12. "For as the
body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body,
being many, are one body, so also is Christ."
The body is one. That guy, sitting over
there on the other side of the Church. The one who sits alone and
looks kind of sad. He is your brother.
Jesus prayed (John 17:20 & forward) "not
for these alone (his disciples) but also for those (for you, and that
guy on the other side of the Church) who will believe in Me (down
through history) through their word; that they (all of us) may be ONE,
as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be ONE in
Us, that the world may believe You sent Me." What did Jesus pray
for, when He so often went off and prayed by Himself?--That you and I
would be one. That we would surrender our lives to God and be one in
Him. That we would love one another. REAL love, not as the world knows
love.
Do you want to convince the world, or
even one other person that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the
world? Then love your brother, not only for him, but also "that the
world may believe" that the Father really did send the Son. In a
loveless world; in a world filled with divorce and betrayal and war and
prejudice and injustice; what will convince someone that Jesus Christ
was sent from God the Father? Our love, which was given us in Him, by
Him, and through His Sovereign love for each of us.
We are one. All we have to do is let
Him in - let Him express His love, through people like you and like me.
THEN we can love. THEN they can believe.
Verse 13. "For by one
Spirit we were all baptized into one body---whether Jews or Greeks,
whether slaves or free---and all have been made to drink into one
Spirit."
It doesn’t matter who we are. If we
are prisoners, condemned to death, homeless on the street, aids
patients, lepers, socially inept, whatever. If we receive Him, we
become one IN Him. We learn in Romans 6:3 (& context) that baptism
symbolizes we are dead to this world, dead to the outward things that
divide us. If we are truly dead to all that is superficial, why are we
divided? Is it not right that we love one another? Jesus said to the
woman by the well (we are all the woman by the well), "whoever
drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the
water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water,
springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:14). Did we drink
that water? Then we are one in Him.
Verse 14. "For in fact
the body is not one member but many."
Paul uses this wonderful analogy of the
human body, to describe that which is difficult to understand. We are
so self-centered, seeing everything through our own needs. We filter
all that is through our own needs. – I love the Access computer program,
partly because of the "queries" which filter out unwanted information.
We do the same thing with the words and needs of other people. We
filter out that which we do not want to understand.
We say we are not prejudiced, but we
are. Every other person is seen as a rival or a potential rival. All
too often we want what they have. We think we want to be what they
are. We are divided by pride, self-centeredness, and yes, by
self-loathing, projected out into hatred for others. Paul is right that
we are many. This potential is given to us in Christ: we should be
one in love, and we can be - in Him.
That is the part about the Trinity that
so many miss. We are so busy focusing on the physical aspects of being
"One" and so busy advancing some theology, that we forget the greatest
wonder of all: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are One in
LOVE. They utterly LOVE one another, with no hidden motives, no
jealousy of the other’s position, no covetousness, no malice, none at
all. This is what it means to be One in the Body of Christ - to be many
people but to truly love one another.
We are "many" but in Him, we can indeed
be one.
Verse 15. "If the foot
should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,’ is it
therefore not of the body?"
I was not raised around family. I was
an only kid, who spent a key part of my childhood in hospital beds and
wheelchairs. My only cousins are a quarter century younger than me.
When I got out of the hospital beds, I was very fat, utterly
self-conscious and had no clue how to make friends. I have no natural
concept about being part of a "body" of people. Yet, I find in Him, the
love that I did not understand and never expected. Several times, I
decided to be alone - to "bravely" go into the future, doing it all for
myself. God has not let that happen and He is teaching me about love.
If He is a part of you, you WILL be a part of other people.
Verse 16. "And if the
ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,’ is it
therefore not of the body?"
A great part of the divisions among us
are caused by jealousy. We want to be something, someone else. What
would the body be without the ear? It would not hear the freight train
that was bearing down on the body. Paul’s analogy is very good. We
really are, as David commented, "Fearfully and wonderfully made." I may
be more like a toe than a hand (an odd shaped ear than a beautiful eye),
but I am a necessary part of the body, created just the way I am because
that was what God wanted to do. We all too often want OUT of what we
are, as expressed in self-destructiveness like drugs and whatever. We
are part of mankind and we in Christ should be the first to realize
that. We are all one people, one human race, and when we are know our
Lord, we are twice one, for we are One in Him.
Verse 17. "If the
whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were
hearing, where would be the smelling?"
Simon (in Acts 8:9-24) missed the whole
point. He had become a believer in Christ and therefore had it all. I
mean, becoming a child of the King should be enough for anybody. Did
you ever fantasize that you were a real life prince or princess? Did
you ever want to be more than you are? That is PRECISELY what happens
to us when we are in Christ Jesus. We are given more in Him than we
could have ever thought or expected. We are in Him! We are actually
heading toward a happy ending! We are literally made new, and the old
IS passing away (2 Cor. 5:17). Simon wasn’t satisfied with everything
- he wanted even more. HE wanted to be the one who would give the Holy
Spirit and he even tried to pay money for that right; as though MONEY
could pay for that which is priceless!
Verse 18. "But now God
has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased."
You are the way you are because you are
CHOSEN by Almighty God. Are you tall? Are you beautiful? Do people
say about you, "isn’t he (or she) intelligent!" Thank God, for you are
fearfully and wonderfully made. Do you lack these things?--Thank Him
anyway. Have you believed in Christ? Thank God for that as well, for
He enabled you to believe.
Being dissatisfied is such a waste!
Don’t spend your time worrying about what might have been. Don’t
always lose your life by trying to be something you are not. Enjoy
today, trust in Him. Be still and KNOW that He is God (a great verse,
found in Psalms 46:10). To the extent that we are always restless, we
never find the REST that He wants for us. Have you ever thought about
all the drive-by shootings here in Los Angeles? Have you thought about
the terrible anger expressed in rampant abuse of other people? Why do
people harm others? Because of envy. They want to be something other
than they are, and they express that anger by harming other people who
might have more than they do. Delight Yourself in Him, and you WILL
find the desires of your heart. God has unexpected joy you will find in
His love.
Verse 19. "And if they
were all one member, where would the body be?"
We’ve heard people say, "If everyone
were just like me, the world would be OK." What if you went up to
someone and said "I’m so glad I’m me; don’t you wish everybody was?"
Now, we don’t SAY things like that, but we often LIVE like we secretly
believed it. It’s easy to like someone who thinks like you do. Someone
who has your theology, your philosophy; somebody just like you. I think
God delights in our outward differences. It’s easy to look in the
mirror and like that person. It’s harder to like the person who’s tree
is growing over our fence. It gets difficult to love the person who got
what WE want in life. Our differences are opportunities. How can I
love someone I do not like? I go to the Lord. In Him, that person and
I can be one in the Body of Christ.
Verse 20. "But now
indeed there are many members, yet one body."
We really are one, whether we want to
be or not. When I went to Maine as a young adult, some years ago, it
was interesting that I was accepted as "family" by persons I had never
met. Because my mother was their daughter, they fed me, entertained me,
offered to do things for me in the future. When I went back to
California, they stayed in touch, and once in a while, sent presents.
"Family" is important to people. If we really believe the Bible, every
person we meet or see is family, after the flesh. If we believe our
Lord, the ones who trust in Him are closer than any brothers we could
ever have. Yes, there are many of us. Yes, we are different in many
ways. Yet we are one in Him.
Verse 21. "And the eye
cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to
the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’"
Here’s where the "Spiritual Gifts" come
in. When we receive Christ and are Given His Holy Spirit, we are each
NOT made the same in Him. You may not believe in "Tongues" but let us
suppose for a minute that the gift of tongues is a real gift of God -
for today! And, even more surprising, you are given that gift! You go
around, exercising that gift and have a fine time, but you have no idea
what it means! You need an interpreter! Or, you have knowledge, and
now you need your brother who has wisdom. We are deliberately made so
that we NEED one another. If you are in the Body of Christ, praise the
Lord, for you have more than you had before. But you need still more -
you need your brother.
Verse 22. "No, much
rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are
necessary."
There are some gifts, some positions in
the Church that seem more glamorous than others. Those who lack one
kind of gift but have the other kind, tend (far too often) to envy the
one who has much. Actually, the one who has more has a problem
- he is supposed to HELP the one who has less. He will be judged by a
greater standard than someone like perhaps me, who has less. But those
of us who are "weaker" are necessary to the Body of Christ. Why? Well
for one thing, because God says so. (Remember that it is God the Holy
Spirit who prompted Paul to say these words). And less in our sight, is
sometimes more in the sight of God.
Even more, those who have less ARE
necessary. For one thing, we do not "see" as God sees and that which
seems less to us might be more to Him. For another, it is a great
honor to have less; to be able to do less. It’s easy to obviously be
more (taller, better looking, more talented, more gifted) in the sight
of other people. It takes real faith to have less. Having less is an
opportunity to TRUST in Him.
Verse 23. "And those
members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we
bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty,"
What we value is often less in the
sight of God. During the study this morning, I had the perfect vantage
point to see a rainbow through a small window. I commented on it and
though the others looked, they did not see, because 1)
their vantage point was different and 2) they looked
out the wrong window. We often do not receive that which is offered by
others, merely because our understanding is insufficient . (A couple of
minutes later, they looked again, and DID see the rainbow - It was
beautiful).
That which is not seen often has great
value. The person who has the gift of "faith" is often not recognized
at all by those around them. The person with a gift of healing is more
likely to be in a hospital room at three o’clock in the morning,
anonymous, known to no one except God, praying for the person who is
sick; than he is to be on a stage with his hand on people’s heads. We
really lack perception about what is valuable. But what we do consider
valuable we treasure. The jewel we consider beautiful is probably kept
hidden in a safe. That which is not seen often is priceless in the
sight of God.
Verse 24. "but our
presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having
given greater honor to that part which lacks it."
I think it is important to note in this
verse that "God composed the body" and has given "greater honor to that
part which lacks it." We often look at a person in a public ministry,
and feel he is somehow "better." The "teacher" of a Sunday School class
is thought to have more to offer than the student sitting in the class.
God has chosen each of us to be just what we are. It’s time to take a
moment and simply THANK Him (whether we are teacher or student, because
all who love Him are useful in His sight), understanding that He really
does know what He is doing.
Honor in this world is nothing. It’s
the honor that God gives which is lasting. His honor is often not seen
by us at all. It really doesn’t MATTER what we think as to what is
honorable and what is not, except for this: That everything we have (or
do not have), and all that we are (or are not), was carefully thought
out by God who loves us. What is God’s motive in my present
condition?--He loves me! That which seems chaotic is really not, and
all was wrought in His love.
Verse 25. "that there
should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the
same care for one another."
I’m supposed to care for you and you
for me. If we disagree on theology, we do! That we disagree does not
matter, if we are in Christ. He is more than just our
foundation, He is also our LIFE! If we believe in Him, we belong not
only to Him but also to one another. If I disagree with your philosophy
about religious things, it does not remove you from the Body of Christ.
I have a positive requirement to be head-over-heels in love with you.
You are supposed to be in love with me - each of us with one another.
We should CARE for one another. If your house needs paint, it is not
our job to criticize you, or gossip about you (that your house needs
paint) - it’s our job to help you paint it! We should care, one for the
other.
Verse 26. "And if one
member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is
honored, all the members rejoice with it."
Chrysostom illustrated this section
("and if one member suffers") by saying that "If a thorn runs into the
heel, the whole body feels it and is troubled; and on the other hand, if
the head receives a garland of honor, the whole man is glorified."
It’s amazing that 2,000 years after the Corinthians had difficulty
understanding this, we still have the same problem. If that guy three
rows over in Church is honored, I should feel GLAD for him, because he
is my brother in Christ --- If he is blessed, it is a blessing for every
one, because he is a part of the Body of Christ - We are all one body.
Verse 27. "Now you are
the body of Christ, and members individually."
It’s really incredible that we can be
so much a part of something that we are completely identified with it.
We ARE the Body of Christ. And yet, we are individuals as well. That
is even more amazing. I mean, if I was designing all this (be glad that
I’m not), we would be probably some kind of robots. We parents should
all have learned from being a parent that expecting some kind of
absolute obedience just does not work. Children (We’re all children)
are THEMSELVES and they don’t fit the molds we make for them. God made
us individuals and somehow, the uniqueness of each one becomes even more
pronounced when we become a part of Him. We don’t lose, we gain,
because we discover who and what we really are and also become a part of
something (Someone) wonderful, as well.
Verse 28. "And God has
appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third
teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps,
administrations, varieties of tongues."
The tendency here is to view this as a
ranking by importance of the gifts that are named. Apostles would
certainly come first, because they (Peter, John, Matthew, Thomas and the
rest) were CHOSEN by the Lord, first in time, and they were preeminent
in the early Church. Prophets next? Yes, I would agree with that. But
"helps" - does that come before administration in importance? I do not
know, and I suspect Paul is not really placing them in an absolute order
so much as he is simply continuing to describe the "body" of believers
and how we fit into it. "Remember, the "greater" is really the servant
of everyone else, so "greater" or "lesser" really does not apply). He
gives a couple of "new" gifts and we should look at them:
ADMINISTRATIONS. This word is from "kubernao",
to guide. It denotes "steering" like you would drive a car. On a boat,
this person would be called a "pilot." The word can also be "governings"
and refers to those who act as guides in a local church. These people
are often on a Church Board. I have been on boards and if I was in
charge of one, I would really want two or three members who had the gift
of "discernment of spirits" (along with the courage to say what they
really thought). I would also want a couple of people with "knowledge"
and certainly some with "wisdom." Yes, certainly a couple of them
should have "kubernao" (governings) but I want the other gifts as well.
In the gifts, we are to be accountable to God through one
another.
HELPS. This word signifies in the
Greek, "to lay hold of, to support." In Acts 20:35, as Paul was saying
goodbye to the Ephesians, he used a form of this word instructing them
to "support the weak." He goes on to quote the Lord, "It is better to
give than to receive." A linguist named Hort says "helps" in the Greek
is "anything that would be done for poor or weak or outcast brethren."
If you are drawn to the poor and needy; if you are fulfilled by helping
others, then 1) you understand what is expected of ALL
Christians better than most, and 2) you may have this
gift. And what a beautiful gift it is - to help others, often without
the recognition of men. We should all re-read the last third of
Matthew 25, where He blesses us with these words (25:40): "…inasmuch
as you did it (fed others, clothed the naked, visited the
prisoners and the sick, etc.), to the least of
these My brethren, you did it to Me."
Verse 29. "Are all
apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of
miracles?"
I love these two verses (29 and 30).
Read the context carefully and it is inescapable that there is an
IMPLIED word between each of the statements, and the implied word is
"NO." Every once in awhile, we run into someone who insists we must
have some gift or another in order to be right with God. The evangelist
often thinks EVERY Christian must be an evangelist. You get these guys
who insist that we must speak in tongues in order to be saved. You’ve
got to do this or that. The bottom line is that often the person is
really saying, "You’ve got to be like me." Nope - the real bottom line
in the Body of Christ is unity with diversity. We are all one in Him
and we are individuals – we are all different in Him, but one in love.
Are all teachers? The implied answer is "NO." If God is leading you to
teach, then do it. You will never feel or be complete unless you
respond to that leading from God. But not all are teachers.
Verse 30. "Do all have
gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
It is better to do the thing we are
called to do. Perhaps your real calling is to pray for the sick. Then
do so, and leave the Sunday School teaching ministry to the one who has
the gift of teaching. We are to follow God, not men, when they want us
to teach the 5th grade class. The question is asked here, "Do all speak
with tongues?" The implied answer is "NO." You may be pressed to speak
in tongues by some well-meaning (or maybe NOT well-meaning) person. You
only have to be what God has created you (and re-created you) to be -
You do not have to be what some person thinks everyone ought to be.
I remember Stanley Johnson, who led
people to Christ. Stanley would pick up a hitch hiker and lead them to
Christ - within minutes! He would walk along a sidewalk and lead other
persons (who just happened to be walking along) to Christ - almost
instantly. I saw him walk into rooms full of people and within minutes,
everyone in the room would be bowing their heads and receiving Christ.
Stanley had the gift of evangelism. We ALL witness; we ALL can pray for
the sick; we ALL can teach; we can all lead someone to Christ - but the
one with the gift can do it so much more effectively. Let us
pray that we find that special and perfect calling God has for us - For
to be COMPLETE is to do what we were designed to do, and we will do it
with perfect CONTENTMENT.
Verse 31. "But
earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent
way."
Is it O.K. to want the very best, the
most exciting gifts of all? You bet it is. You can go to the Lord our
God and ask Him for ANYTHING you want. He loves you. I was always
delighted when my children asked me for things. I was limited
financially but God has no limitations – He owns "the cattle on a
thousand hills." He can make you a prophet, or an evangelist, or you
can teach like the Apostle Paul. What is on your heart? But He has so
much more in store for you than just these "gifts" which are more like
the wrapping paper than the real present (the "real present" is Christ
Himself, who loves us). And this is what we are going to see in Chapter
13 - something more than mere outward activities - we will see LOVE in
action; a more excellent way.
Ron Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
www.fridaystudy.org
ron@fridaystudy.org
