Once again Paul re-affirmed
that in the church, unity works through diversity. He wanted his readers to know
that the illustration of the physical body applies to every member of the church,
and not only to some of them. The apostle strongly maintained that everyone
belong to the body and each is a member of one another. Here he added another list
of gifts and the calling of God upon different individuals of the church.
First he mentioned the gifts
of apostleship. These included the twelve who were called and sent out by Jesus.
Paul also belonged to this group. We need to know that the Bible shows two types
of apostles. The 12 who uniquely shared Jesus’ life during His earthly ministry.
The other group comprised of people gifted and sent by God’s church to start
and establish fellowships other than their own home church. Such people are
usually also given unique ability to govern a church.
Then there are the prophets,
the inspired spokesmen of God. The teachers, those who can impart God’s truth clearly
and inspirationally. The workers of miracles who have the ability to do things
that defy the natural. And those with the gifts of healing and are empowered to
assist in the healing of diseases. Then there are those with the ability to
help others. Paul also talked about people with administrative abilities to
lead others and the speakers of different tongues, the ability to speak
languages that they did not learn.
In verses 29 and 30, Paul
asked a series of questions that presupposed no for an answer. He was essentially
saying that not every person in the church is an apostle, a teacher, a worker
of miracles, a healer, and a speaker with supernatural ability to speak of
different languages he had not learned or an interpreter of those languages he
did not learn.
What Paul was trying to do
was to assure the Corinthians that even without those gifts, each of them was still
very much a part of the body of Christ and did have other uses. They ought not
to feel guilty or useless even if they did not have those gifts, for this God is
a God of variety. He works through diversity. There is no gift that is more
superior to another and there is no gift that is less important to another. To
have such an attitude would violate the truth.
Paul quickly turned to tell
them in verse 31, that instead of coveting another person’s gift, they should seek
God and ask for the greater gift. Gifts of God are never given to make one more
superior to another. Gifts are given to help another progress in the Lord. The
greater gift is not a gift to highlight a person but a gift that best meet the
needs of people in a given situation. For example, the best gift in deliberating
the future of God’s plan for the church would be wisdom. The best gift when we
are praying for the sick would be healing, and etc. Paul rounded up by paving
the way for him to launch into discussing about the most excellent way to use
the gift of God i.e. the way of love.
No one in the fellowship of
God should try to exaggerate his or her self-importance. Conversely, it is also
needful that no one feel inessential because he or she does not seem to have a
significant or prominent gift. Our God is a God of variety, and He expects
everyone to use his or her God given gift for the total good for the whole family.
Everyone is expected to yield to the working of the Holy Spirit, seeking to
work as one unit. No one should attempt to go on a solo-flight.
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