How can we balance desiring gifts with humility and service in the church? The Tension We Feel 1 Corinthians 12:31 sets the stage: “But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you a way that is beyond comparison”. We are clearly told to long for the Spirit’s gifts, yet one breath later Paul insists that love—humble, self-giving love—is the “more excellent way.” Balancing those two commands shapes healthy life in the body of Christ. Why Desire Matters • Gifts are God’s chosen method for meeting needs (1 Corinthians 12:7). • Desire honors the Giver: we show we value what He values (Matthew 7:11; James 1:17). • Longing to serve through gifts keeps us from passive spectating (Romans 12:6-8). Why Humility Matters • “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). • Without love, even miraculous gifts “profit me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). • Jesus “emptied Himself…taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:5-8); His pattern governs ours. A Two-Track Mindset Track 1—Eager pursuit • Ask, seek, knock (Luke 11:9-13). • Learn what the gifts are and how they operate (1 Corinthians 12; 14). • Step out in faith where needs surface, trusting the Spirit to supply. Track 2—Lowly posture • Remember every gift is a stewardship, not a trophy (1 Peter 4:10-11). • Celebrate others’ gifts as gladly as your own (1 Corinthians 12:21-26). • Measure fruit by edification, not attention (Ephesians 4:11-16). Practical Habits That Hold Desire and Humility Together • Start each ministry moment with silent dependence: “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). • Seek private affirmation from the Lord before public affirmation from people (Matthew 6:3-4). • Practice regular, unseen service—stacking chairs, visiting shut-ins, praying behind the scenes—so your heart stays trained on love, not applause (Mark 10:42-45). • Invite mature believers to speak correction when gift-use drifts toward self-promotion (Proverbs 27:6). • Rotate ministry roles when possible; variety reminds us the church belongs to Christ, not to any single gift-bearer (1 Corinthians 3:5-7). Safeguards Against Spiritual Pride • Gratitude journal: record how God used others to bless you; thank Him for them by name. • Scripture memory: keep verses on humility close—e.g., Philippians 2:3-4; Romans 12:3. • Fast from platforms: periodically choose anonymity (e.g., no microphone) to recalibrate motives. • Celebrate small wins: rejoice when a quieter gift—administration, mercy, helps—bears fruit (1 Corinthians 12:22-24). • Redirect praise upward and outward: “Isn’t God kind? How can this encourage you?” (Psalm 115:1). Living the “More Excellent Way” • Love is the motive: every gift aims to build, not to brand. • Christ is the model: He washed feet, then empowered apostles (John 13:14-15; Acts 1:8). • The Spirit is the means: He distributes “as He wills” (1 Corinthians 12:11), guarding us from rivalry. • The body is the beneficiary: when desire and humility coexist, “each part works properly” and the church “grows and builds itself up in love” (Ephesians 4:16). Eagerly desire. Gladly serve. Keep love at the center, and spiritual gifts will find their rightful, fruitful place in the life of the church. |
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