Speak the words that edify others

READ: Isaiah 13,14; Psalms 69; 1 Corinthians 14

SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 14: 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20 Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.

OBSERVATION: Recently, a reputed Anglican scholar shared his experience of speaking in tongues when he talked to his cousin concerning his worries about his work. It soon went viral all over the world; his testimony encouraged many Christians. A well-known Indian evangelist once shared his experience that he would spend a few days praying in tongues before every speaking assignment. Speaking in a tongue helps a Christian to edify himself. There is no valid reason to believe that the gift of speaking in tongues is ceased with the Early Church. The Bible or Paul never says against speaking in tongues(v.39). However, he advised that it is better not to practice the spiritual gift of speaking a tongue if there is no interpreter when speaking publicly in the Church (v.28). We need to understand why Paul said such a thing.

Paul explicitly mentioned that “I speak in tongues more than all of you.”  So, Paul was certainly not saying anything against using the gift of speaking in a tongue. In 1 Corinthians 12, he said that a spiritual gift “is given for the common good.” In his response to the Corinth believers’ question concerning spiritual gifts, Paul encouraged them that “Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.” (v.12). In the Church, every Christian should be concerned about edifying one another. To that end, “five intelligible words” are better than thousands of words we speak in tongues. In ancient Greek, 10000 (Myriad) is the largest number.  In their eagerness concerning the spiritual gifts, Corinth believers must have thought like children. Paul asked the Corinthians, “Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children.” In the pursuit of spiritual gifts, Christians should stop childish thinking and practices. At the same time, we should be like children without any evil desires or motives. Jesus said, “be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” (Mt.10:16). As Paul said to the Roman Church, we need “be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil” (Rom.16:19).  Above all, it is love that helps us use our spiritual gifts to edify and build others. Let us remember it and be careful to “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit.”

APPLICATION: God has given me spiritual gifts. I should be careful in using them for his glory. Instead of satisfying myself in speaking so many words in the Church, I should/will be sensitive to the needs of others and speak the words that build and edify them.

PRAYER: Almighty God, thank you for all the spiritual gifts you have given to every Christian. Jesus, help me to be aware of my spiritual gift(s) and use it appropriately to edify others in the Church. Holy Spirit, give me your strength to be/become a mature Christian. Amen.

- Arputharaj Samuel
+91 9538328573

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