On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 1 Corinthians 14:3-4.
So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church… The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
We live in a self-centered world. The key question all of us ask when we are invited to something, or ask to commit to something is simple: what am I going to get out of it? It has become so normal that most would ask, “what is wrong with that question? Makes perfect sense! We would expect this from the world and hope that the church would be different, but this is the same question we ask when we plan anything – why would anyone come to this? What are they going to get out of it?
I get it! By doing so I am also admitting how much that attitude affects me too. Yet there is something inside of me that cries out that Christians should be different. Doing things with a positive self-interest is not evil in and of itself. One could argue that trusting Christ as Savior has enormous self-interest in that Jesus can change what is impossible for us to change. You cannot get more deeply embedded in “self-interest” than the nature of salvation.
But passages like 1 Corinthians are very refreshing and challenging. It spins around spiritual gifts and raises this very issue. The contrast between two spiritual gifts: prophecy and speaking in tongues is not a debate as to which is more valid than the other, but what is its impact. The distinction is in who receives edification.
Edification simply means to strengthen, build up or increase the potential of someone or something. The focus with tongues is “self-edification”. The focus of prophecy is the edification of others. Paul carefully avoids the idea that one gift is bad, and one is good. The nature of speaking in tongues is more effective in building up self; prophecy, by nature, builds up others. In the church prophecy is far more valuable because its purpose is specifically to build up others.
We live in an age where it is tempting and easier to think of self before others. We build our lives around what is good for me to be doing, and I can’t waste time with things that do not help me. But the nature of the church, and specifically about the exercise of spiritual gifts is how can I build up and strengthen others. We struggle that our lives are being pulled in a hundred different directions and we can’t do everything, so we need to be selective.
I love the heartbeat of Paul. “So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.” (1 Cor. 14:12). His encouragement to gather with the mindset of building and strengthening others instead of what I get out of it, is marvelous. Many people do get this, and it is wonderful. But there are always those where the prevailing attitude is about what am I really getting out of this – and if it does not live up to my expectations, then there is no need to be here.
This has far more to do with the attitude of our heart than the gift. I am not really writing about spiritual gifts; I am writing about attitude and motivation. I love hanging with people who are clearly committed to the edification of others. When they gather with the church, they love the ministry of others and love gleaning encouragement from them. But their core motivation does not hinge on the programing or the worship or the preaching. They will soak in all those things BUT the reason they are here is to find way to encourage, strengthen, and build others up.
You can spot these people because they love finding out what the Lord is doing in others. They seek others out and learn what they can pray about for others. They discover the biggest challenges others face and commit to praying for them. The reason they gather is to find ways to help, encourage, pray and support others. I love these kinds of people. They don’t complain, grumble or criticize, They build people up!
Pastor Brad