1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (NIV)
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Some people read this paragraph as if Paul were making a list of all the spiritual gifts that are available. But that is not what he is doing. This list is representative, not exhaustive. There are an infinite number of ways in which God can gift people with divine power for ministry and service. These are only a few. Paul’s purpose in this paragraph is twofold, and ties in closely with the theme of the whole chapter: unity.
Pause first purpose is to stress that it is God himself who bestows spiritual gifts based on what He knows to be needed in the Church body. And the purpose of the gifts is always for the common good. Each gift is designed to contribute to the effectiveness, growth and wholeness of the entire Church body.
Paul’s second purpose is to emphasize that no matter what gives a person, or a group of people have been given, they’re all the manifestation of one Spirit. So, unity, rather than division and competition, should always be the logical outcome.
The Corinthian Christians had divided themselves in many ways. They had divided themselves based on which theologians they most admired (1:12, 3:4). They had taken sides in legal disputes (6:1-8). They had divided themselves over what they ate or did not eat (8:9-13). And they had divided themselves according to their spiritual gifts, each group claiming that theirs was the most important, or the sign of greater maturity or a closer relationship with God.
Paul is attempting to counter those divisions with a stiff dose of truth. Whatever gifts a person has or does not have is determined by God and God alone. And all gifts come from the same Spirit and are to be used for the common good. These gifts were designed for one purpose: to enable the Church to be successful in the mission to which God had called them, and result should be unity in that mission, as each member works in the spiritual gifting God had provide to perform the role he or she has been given.
Father, this is so revealing. Unfortunately, we haven’t grown past many of these same kinds of divisions today. We still tend to sift ourselves, and sort ourselves, and categorize ourselves, and then we start to rank ourselves based on nothing more than our preferences or our feelings. We feel that some roles are more important than others, and either exalt ourselves if we belong to that particular role or strive to achieve that role. We believe that some gifts are more important or better than others, an exalt that one gift, putting the others below it. But Paul here does not rank the gifts. He merely points out that all of them are given by the same Spirit as you determine is best. His clear point is that no one should exalt themselves or others based on gifts received from You, but that all gifts are essential for the Church to do what You have called us to do. Thank You, Lord, for such clarity on this vital subject. Amen.