In 1 Corinthians 14:1-12, the Apostle Paul distinguishes between spiritual gifts that are personally edifying and those that are publicly edifying, and he encourages us to pursue the latter. In his own words: “Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.” Let us examine the passage in closer detail.

First, remember the larger context of this passage. Throughout 1 Corinthians 12-14, Paul is responding to the Corinthian abuse of the gift of speaking in tongues. The gift of tongues, first mentioned in Acts 2:1-13, is the divinely given ability to speak in a language one has not previously learned. Unlike other spiritual gifts – leadership, administration, teaching, etc. – the gift of tongues is obviously miraculous in character. Not coincidentally, it is easy to abuse for selfish purposes, and this is in fact what certain prominent Corinthians had done. They had practiced speaking in tongues in such a way that they implicitly (and even explicitly) downgraded all other gifts. “You have the gift of hospitality? How quaint! Martha Stewart would be proud. Now let me show you what a truly spiritual person can do by speaking in Pamphylian, a language I have never learned.” Such arrogance made other Christians ashamed of their God-given spiritual gifts. It also hampered the use of these other gifts in the church. Evidently, those with gifts of tongues would prattle on and on in the service, interpreting themselves and other, more intelligible speakers. Paul had to correct this abuse; the spiritual health of the Corinthian church was at stake.

Second, observe Paul’s response to the Corinthian abuse of speaking in tongues. He did not forbid the Corinthians to speak in tongues. Neither did he downplay the significance of the gift. Instead, he regulated its use. In 1 Corinthians 14:1-12, Paul distinguishes gifts that are personally edifying from those that are publicly edifying. In private, the individual may speak in tongues for personal edification, but in public – that is, in the worship service – individual gifts of tongues must be interpreted so that the entire congregation can benefit from the gift. The issue, in other words, is not the gift of tongues per se, but its proper use. “I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,” Paul writes, “but I would rather have you prophesy.” Why? Because: “He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.” Spiritual gifts opened in public should be used for public benefit, not just private edification.

Third, consider the application of Paul’s teaching to us today. To the extent that that the gift of tongues occurs in contemporary congregations, Paul’s rules for its use apply across the board. There is a larger arena of application, however, which I think is of equal importance today. Contemporary Christians of speak of the practice of their faith in consumerist terms. I have often heard many Christians explain how they left this church or that church because they weren’t being “fed.” Either the preaching was lousy or the music uninspiring. Now, I’m all for good preaching and inspiring music, but the consumerist mindset is very similar to the Corinthian mentality. In both cases, personal satisfaction and fulfillment is egotistically elevated above all other considerations. We are spiritual consumers, concerned only with the satisfaction of our individual desires. God calls us out of our individualism and asks us to desire the well being of others. He calls us, in other words, to be spiritual producers, not just spiritual consumers. A consumer is concerned only with his own wants; a producer is concerned with others’ needs.

It is this concern for the needs of others that ultimately distinguishes Paul from the Corinthians. He was concerned; they weren’t. That’s why, at the beginning of this passage, Paul writes these five little words: “Follow the way of love.” Those who love care for others. They are, so to speak, spiritual producers, not just spiritual consumers.