Using Your Gifts to Glorify God
So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.
1 Corinthians 14:15
In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul is addressing a problem that had arisen in Corinth concerning public worship and the use of the gifts, specifically prophecy and tongues. In earlier chapters, Paul had discussed how Christians should live out their freedom, which was qualified and regulated by love. Now, a self-indulgent spirit, which had debauched the principle of freedom in other areas, had found a similar expression in the use of gifts for public worship. Such selfishness had produced disunity and chaos in public worship.
Paul said that whatever is done in the Church must be for the edification of all. Gifts are given for the common good (see 1 Corinthians 12) and must be used in agreement with the principle of love (see 1 Corinthians 13). There was no problem with any of the people using the service gifts excessively. The primary concern was the gift of prophecy and the gift of tongues—specifically their use in public worship. In response, Paul offered some prudent guidelines.
First, whatever is communicated in public worship must be intelligible. It must be spoken in the common language or at least be interpreted in the common language. Prophecy is more desirable than tongues (unless someone has the gift of interpretation), because prophecy is spoken in a language that can be understood by all present (see 1 Corinthians 14:1-3).
Second, because the Corinthians were “eager to have spiritual gifts,” they should “try to excel in gifts that build up the church” (verse 12). These gifts would certainly include serving, mercy, giving, administration, exhortation and teaching, as well as prophecy. It seems to be part of our fallen nature to desire gifts that appear more supernatural and more noticeable by others. However, the exercise of any gift is supernatural, and God always notices its proper use.
Third, tongues is a sign for unbelievers, and the gift of prophecy is for believers because it communicates truth to those who are open to receiving it (see verse 22). Based on Paul’s statement in verses 18 and 19, some would argue for the private use of tongues for their own edification. However, even the private use of tongues without an interpretation is unintelligible. Therefore, the personal benefit is subjective—that is, a sense of God’s presence that enhances a love relationship. When a prophetic message is heard, “the secrets of their hearts are laid bare” (verse 25), which leads to repentance and thus draws them closer to God.
Fourth, “God is not a God of disorder but of peace” (verse 33). Paul has previously indicated that women can pray and prophesy in public worship as long as they are under authority (see 11:5). In this chapter, Paul seems to be prohibiting them from speaking in Church. Some argue that a woman should be in submission at home and church and that this timeless order was established at creation. Others understand this instruction to be sensitive to current social practices. In that culture it was “disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church” (1 Corinthians 14:35), but they reason it may not be so in other cultures.
Regardless of our understanding on this issue, we should always be respectful and “everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way” (verse 40). Christian men and women are gifted and the Church is edified when both are living under God’s established order and using their gifts to the glory of God.
questions to consider
What specific problem is Paul addressing in 1 Corinthians 14?
Why do you think Paul stresses that praying and singing with our spirits should also include singing and praying with our minds—and “in regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults” (14:20)?
What guidelines did Paul establish for the public use of the gift of tongues and prophecy?
How can you personally distinguish between a gift from God and a counterfeit?
How can you find the balance between an excessive emphasis on spiritual gifts and prohibiting their use?
Neil T. Anderson is the founder of Freedom in Christ Ministries. He began the ministry in 1989 and continues to spread the message of freedom to this day.