Epiphany 4 (3)

(NIV): 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way. 13 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. 2 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. 3 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. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Well, it has been a month already but it is not too soon to ask that penetrating question. “How are you doing on your New Year’s resolutions?” Even if you did not make a resolution to eat better, drink less alcohol, quit smoking, spend more quality time with family and friends, spend less and save more, etc., we all have those periods in our lives what we evaluate what we are doing and the attitude we have in doing it. It seems that the end of the year is often when that is done. I know for myself as the pastor of a congregation, I reflect on how I am doing and also on the perceivable health of the congregation.

Love Is Indispensable

Although we do not know at what time of year St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians in this letter, we do find him listing and evaluating spiritual gifts that were present in that church. It reminds us of how in the introduction to the book of Revelation, the seven churches to which John wrote were also evaluated and comments were made on how they were doing, sins that they needed to repent of, and trust in God to help them make some improvements.

And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

We are not immune as individuals or as a congregation from such constructive criticism. In Revelation the check up is addressed to the congregations. Here St. Paul addresses the individual. But instead of picking apart individuals, he starts with himself and teaches us a very important lesson about spiritual gifts.

We are to Use our Spiritual Gifts in Love.

The past several weeks we have been looking at spiritual gifts. Those talents and abilities that God has distributed to us that we are to recognize in ourselves, exercise them in our lives, strive to excel at them, and use them for the common good. We also noted that we are all important when it comes to the use of our spiritual gifts and our part of the body of Christ. We are all gifted, blessed by God, considered important by him, and an integral part of the team. (I remember the comment my music teacher wrote on my report card in 8th grade regarding my attempts to play baritone saxophone in the band. “You are an asset to the band. “ I wasn’t sure I know then what asset meant but I do know now. She considered me a valuable part of the band even though the bari sax almost never gets to play the melody.)

Well, I never did become a great sax player and I can’t say that I ever adopted what St. Paul says here about the use of spiritual gifts, but I do know that what he is saying is true for how we use our spiritual gifts.

Eagerly desire the greater gifts.

In verses 29-31 Paul lists different positions within the church: apostles, prophets, teachers, miracle workers. Those who convey God’s word to God’s people can be divided into different areas of expertise. Even today we have teachers, staff ministers, pastors (of varying types of congregations), professors, missionaries etc. There is a wide variety of ways in which to preach the gospel.

This is also true among the laymen of the congregation. We aren’t all members of the choir, Sunday school teachers, church councilmen, etc.

Application: We must be careful that we don’t get either too proud or too discouraged based on the roles we have. Recall how Jesus responded to James’ and John’s request to have higher positions.

(NIV)

35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” 38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” 39 “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” 41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Many would agree that St. Paul was the greatest promoter of Christianity in history. But he himself had this to say about his role.

(NIV)

35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” 38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” 39 “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” 41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11 Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

In our text Paul also lists some of the gifts present in the early church.

Gifts of healing.

Speaking in tongues.

Interpreting tongues.

Gift of prophecy.

Faith that can move mountains.

Generosity.

The congregation in Corinth was indeed very gifted and very dynamic.

Use those gifts in love whether they be great or small.

What would be a comparable list today?

What would comparable one be today?

Caregivers in the health profession.

Generous donors.

Talented musicians.

Gifted teachers.

People good at evaluating and planning.

People powerful in prayer.

What would comparable one be today?

Motivators.

Volunteers.

But the point here is not so much on the variety and quality of the spiritual gifts within in a congregation but the attitude with why they are used. Paul gives these examples and teaches that even if he were the greatest at them, they would be nothing unless he used them in love.

His description of Christian love has become a favorite reading for weddings. It does describe the selfless love that husbands and wives are to have for each other.

But Paul is not talking about love in a marriage here. He is talking about how we are to use our gifts and serve one another in the context of the Christian congregation whether we are married or not.

1 Corinthians 13:4–13 NIV

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

And so when it comes to using our gifts in service to Christ, the goal is not to become the most skilled, talented, effective members of the congregation in a way to draw attention to ourselves. The goal is to use them in love as we mature as Christians.

This calls for spiritual maturity. We did not see it early in the lives of James and John who were seeking positions of power and authority under the new kingdom. Jesus corrected them and taught them an important lesson on humble service and love. Jesus’ words were taken to heart by them and many years later John became know as the apostle of love for his many references to Christian love in the Gospel of John, Revelation, and his epistles.

Although not

1 John 4:7–21 NIV

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

13 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. 2 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. 3 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.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greates