SPIRITUAL GIFTS: A SIGN OF WEAKNESS

My devotions today were basically about how what I have to offer God is not my strengths but my weaknesses.  My strengths tend to lead me to relying on myself.  My weaknesses move me to rely on God.  I find an analogy to this truth in regard to spiritual gifts. 

In my church-life experiences, I have found two stultifying attitudes toward spiritual gifts.  There are those people who are proud of themselves and their churches for their abundant use of spiritual gifts.  And, there are people and their churches who are proud that they are not like those “holy-roller” churches. 

Ironically, both attitudes are wrong.  Neither the presence nor the absence of spiritual gifts makes room for pride.  In their godly use, spiritual gifts are a sign of weakness – a good sign of weakness.  To the first group, as Paul says in his discussion of proper and improper use of spiritual gifts (1Corinthians 12-14), such gifts are not of ourselves. They are undeserved “graces” (charisma).  They are not for us, but for the common good (12:7).  Spiritual gifts are the means through which God can bless others through me in ways that I could not have done through my own strengths.  The Presence of spiritual gifts in me is directly related to my weakness.  To the second group Paul commands, “earnestly desire spiritual gifts!” (14:1).*  Why?  Because Paul’s whole corrective to the proper use of spiritual gifts is that they are to be enveloped and enfolded by that which never fails, love (Ch13, esp. v. 8-10).  If one is abiding in God, God’s love abides in that person, and that person will desire spiritual gifts in order to serve others.

Lord, help me to run to you in my poverty and to offer you my weaknesses, so that I might better love and serve others.  Amen.
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*The reason Paul gives for putting prophecy about other gifts, particularly tongues, is because it is so other-directed, building them up, encouraging them, and comforting them (14:3-4)