1 Corinthians 14:1-5 (NIV)
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.
Paul continues his discourse on spiritual gifts and the divisions they were causing in the Church at Corinth, pitting Christians against each other as they debated which were the most essential or best gifts to have. And there was encouragement to try to develop specific gifts or to pray that God would give people specific gifts.
Paul had previously noted that that’s not the way that spiritual gifts work. They are not developed like skills or talents. Instead, they are bestowed full-blown by the Holy Spirit as He determines that they are needed (1 Corinthians 12:11), and they are given, not to satisfy the desires or cravings of those who are seeking them, but for the good of the entire Church (1 Corinthians 12:7).
Many were pushing forward and urging others to seek the gift of speaking in tongues. But here Paul points people in a different direction. He instructs that, if a person is actually going to ask for a specific gift, it should be prophecy.
The reason is that, although speaking in tongues is a flashy spiritual gift, and even though it is useful in its place, it is one that is more focused on the individual rather than on the good of the whole congregation. The speaker may feel themselves built up by the experience, but nobody else is edified, since they can’t understand what the speaker is saying.
Prophecy, however, falls into a different category altogether. Prophecy is not so much about foretelling the future as it is being able to speak the words of God directly to the people. At times this was a message of encouragement, a warning, a declaration of God’s judgment, or even a specific instruction (Acts 13:1-2). Paul himself was a prophet and teacher at Antioch, in addition to his calling as an apostle, so he personally knew the value of prophecy to build up the Church.
Again, Paul is not telling the Corinthians that the spiritual gifts are given, like Christmas gifts, based on the specific desires of someone. The prerogative of deciding which gifts are most necessary at the time belongs to the Holy Spirit. And He will give as He determines. Paul’s point is that if a person is going to desire or request a specific gift, they should not crave the “flashier” gifts, but their heart of love should cause them to desire the most useful of the gifts, the one that will serve the greater good of the whole Church. And of all the gifts, the gift of prophecy which enables God to speak directly to the people, is a hard one to beat!
Father, there are definitely spiritual gifts that are flashier or more impressive than others. But You have an agenda that You are working in our world and that You are trying to move forward through Your people. And the flashier gifts are often less useful in accomplishing that agenda than some of the less flashy but more practical gifts. Lord, soften my heart so that Your heart for the salvation of all mankind beats in me, so that I will want from Your Spirit the things that will help me make progress in Your plan. Thank You. Amen.