To eagerly desire something sounds a bit wrong, almost as if one is being greedy and self seeking. We are taught to wait our turn, share, put others first but here Paul is encouraging the church and us as believers to eagerly desire spiritual gifts; in fact he says it three times in this letter.
It seems even odder in the context of the letter written to the Corinthian church who had got into excess in a number of areas of church life including spiritual gifts. Paul devotes three chapters (by modern reckoning) to the topic of spiritual gifts and how to use them in the church setting and the meat in the sandwich is the well known chapter 13 on love. Spiritual gifts are to operate out of love and be given in love. Nevertheless Paul urges us to eagerly desire spiritual gifts and especially prophecy. This is because he doesn’t want the church to stop prophesying but to do so in an proper and orderly way. Both the church and the world desperately need to hear the voice of God on a wide range of issues. The gift of prophecy is to edify the church (14: 4) and to strengthen, encourage and comfort others (14:3).
I love it when the gift of prophecy along with words of knowledge and wisdom operate. Suddenly people are aware of God in a way that had been closed before. Believers and unbelievers’ eyes are open not just to the existence of God but that God knows them personally. I was at a ladies conference in South Africa and God gave me a word for each lady. Many asked me how I knew about what I had written. My answer was always ‘I don’t but God does’. I didn’t know any of the circumstances that God gave me words for but he knows and loves each one of us. The world so needs to hear from God and we are the ones he wants to use to tell them. The world needs the wisdom of God in the workplace, schools, colleges, government, health services and so on and individuals are desperate to know God loves them. The church needs to hear God’s heart of love for his beloved church and gain strengthening, direction and encouragement.
God wants to use each one of us with spiritual gifts but he also wants us to eagerly desire both him and his gifts. Do not hold back in modesty; ask God to use you. Each one of us has a part to play and God wants to use us to bless others. Be available today. You will be amazed at how blessed you are as you bless others with words of love and encouragement from the Lord.
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