Love and the Spiritual Gifts

We talked about the gifts in church yesterday. I mean the pastor talked about the gifts. I didn't talk about them. The Apostle Paul wrote about them in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4 and 1 Peter. According to the notes in my Bible, we are all given gifts to use for the good of the body, that is, the body of believers. Romans 12:3 says, "For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highy than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." I have never been sure what that "measure of faith" is referring to, but I take it to mean we are to be humble and not puffed up with pride about whatever gifts we have because everyone has no more or no less than what God has given them. First Corinthians 12:8-10 describes the spiritual gifts of word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healings, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, different kinds of tongues, and interpretation of tongues.I am not sure if I operate in any of those to be honest. Faith, yes, healings, sometimes, discerning of spirits, perhaps, not sure what is meant by "different kinds of tongues," and interpretaion of tongues I definitely have not operated in that. Word of wisdom I have been known to exercise, from what I have learned studying the gifts. Not often, but sometimes. In Romans 12:6-8 the gifts mentioned are sometimes called "motivational" gifts. There are seven. They are prophecy, ministry (serving), teaching, exhortation, giving, leading and mercy. I don't really try to analyze this too much, but what I do in the body of Christ mostly is music, and music, I have read, is part of "ministry" aka serving. And so, that's enough explanation for me. Ephesians 4:11 talks about apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, and on various spiritual gift checklists I have scored on teaching and prophecy, but I have done very little of either. I don't claim to qualify in any of those other classifications other than trying to evangelize, but not being an evangelist. I have been a teacher in the ordinary sense since I played teacher as a child. I have been a teacher, a college professor, a journalist, now I am a tutor, and that is how I operate in the world, not in the church, and I have a single, non church-related volunteer singing engagement a month. It is ministry/service and love is the greatest part of that. First Peter 4:10 says, "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifest grace of God." I love the way 1 Corinthians 12 ends with verse 31: "But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way," and then the LOVE CHAPTER, 1 Corinthians 13, which is another study for another day. It ends like this: "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." Finally, 1 Corinthians 14 starts out like this: "Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophecy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish all of you spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification." So, if by "prophesy," Paul means "edification and exhortation and comfort" then I do that, or at least that is my intention. But if it means, as in the Strong Concordance, Greek Dictionary of the New Testament, number 4395, "to foretell events, divine, speak under inspiration, exercise the prophetic office," I am not sure I can say that I do that. Paul said to "covet" that, and I do covet that, but I don't do it. Maybe someday I will, but in the meantime, I will do my best to operate in the greatest of the three (faith, hope and love), that is, love. I believe love happens in my life as long as Jesus Christ has the pre-eminence in my heart day to day. And it will, if I am faithful to surrender more and more to God who is love.