The Greater Gifts

1 Corinthians 12:30-31

“30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.”

People in the Corinthian church were boasting of their gifts, saying that some gifts were better than others. And if their gifts were better, then that made them better and more valuable to the church.

Paul told them that they were wrong.  First, he said, all gifts are from God, so there is nothing you should boast about.  Second, all gifts were needed equally by the church.  Third, he said strive for the greater gifts.  These are the gifts that every Christian should have or desire to have.  

Paul describes these gifts in 1Corinthians 13. They are faith, hope, and love.  These gifts are the keys to our lives as Christians.  They permeate any and all of the other gifts that we may have.  Of these three gifts, Paul says that the greatest is love and if we do not have love then we have nothing, everything else is empty.  Paul is not writing about romantic love, but he is writing about Christian love; love for God, love for your neighbor, love for people who are hard to love.

Accept and be thankful for the gifts that God has given you and use them for God’ glory.  But strive for the greater gifts of faith, hope and love while you serve and you will find a more excellent way.

May the love of Christ be with you

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)