If you read this blog then you are probably sold on the blessing and significance of spiritual gifts. So for you I don’t have to make a case that the Holy Spirit still operates in power and that he still distributes spiritual gifts in the same way that he did in the first century church – even the more impressive gifts of healing, prophecy, tongues, etc. Gifts are huge. They are fulfilling and they are fruitful. In fact, Paul encourages us to “earnestly desire spiritual gifts” (1 Cor.14:1). The word Paul uses for “earnestly desire” in this passage means to hunger for, be deeply committed to, or even to covet. It is not a slight interest or a passing fancy but a passionate treasure-hunt kind of desire for spiritual gold. Heaven would not understand why anyone would not pray for, fast for, seek impartation for, and diligently develop any spiritual gift that God had given a person a desire to possess and use.
Having said that our desires are paramount in operating in the gifts of the Spirit, we must also keep in mind that our motives for them and when using them are also paramount. In the middle of Paul’s instructions about spiritual gifts in his first letter to Corinth, he deposits an entire chapter on motives. Essentially he tells us that the spiritual gifts given to us are to be exercised on behalf of others and that their exercise should be governed by love. Anything less than that will diminish the gift and the person with the gift.
In his book, Approaching the Heart of Prophecy, Graham Cooke relates this to prophetic gifts. “Historically, the biggest failure in the prophetic has been a lack of love in prophet’s hearts…’Pursue love,’ Paul said. That’s the best piece of advice I can give anyone seeking to move in the prophetic: pursue love” (p.110). Cooke goes on to explain that to prophesy we must hear God. To hear God we must pursue God. And to pursue God is to pursue love because God is love.
How many of us as parents have given cookies to our children with the instruction, “Be sure to share those with the others.” If we saw our children operate selfishly with the gift or saw them manipulate others with the gift, we wanted to take back what we had given them or, at least, we thought twice about giving them cookies again. God is a Father and he probably feels that way about spiritual gifts at times when his children keep them to themselves or use them for personal gain – adulation, manipulation, ego-satisfaction, power-tripping, etc. What is true for prophecy is true for the other gifts as well – whether it is administration, mercy, music, or leadership. Our motives matter.
As we pursue gifts or attempt to increase a gift that we have received, we should be aware of our motives and our love for others. Is our hunger driven by self-focused motives or by a true desire to meet the needs of others and to build up the body of Christ? It’s not that we can’t enjoy the gifts or derive a sense of fulfillment and pleasure when we operate in our gifts, but that is a serendipity to the purpose of all spiritual gifts – which is to build up, encourage, comfort, and strengthen others. God is always glad to give us more cookies when we are willing to give most of them away. It’s just good to do a heart check on that issue from time to time as we ask for more. Be blessed today and enjoy your cookies…but remember to share.
