Whenever we speak of gifts, we must always remember the danger of their being used in the wrong way. This certainly happened at Corinth, an assembly to which the Apostle could say, “Ye come behind in no gift” (1 Cor. 1:7). However, their use of the gifts so largely given to them was evidently very often to promote self and not for the edification of the saints or the blessing of souls in general. “The gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Romans 11:29), and thus God does not remove a gift even though it is improperly used. God may allow one to continue to exercise a gift in the wrong way, though He may deal governmentally with such as He did with the Corinthians. Also, we must remember that gifts, while being a great help in the work of the Lord, and much to be desired, do not by themselves confer godliness.
Gifts and Love
The Apostle Paul, after detailing the gifts and the power of the Spirit in using them in 1 Corinthians 12, shows us “a more excellent way” in chapter 13. It is love that gives character to gifts, and not gifts that give character to love. Love has spoken by its gifts, and it is the love of a risen Christ in glory that has given the gifts, in order that His saints — His bride —may be built up and comforted. This is divine love, a love that has expressed itself by the greatness of its gifts. God’s thoughts towards us are of love, and the purpose in the gift is to express to us the nature of the thought behind the gift. It is the thought that gives the greatest character to the gift, for the thought remains for our enjoyment, even if the gift is no longer there.
Often we become taken up with the gifts — the expression of that love — and yet fail to enjoy that love itself as we should. He rejoices to give, and His gifts tell me of His love on the highest level. We learn the extent of the heart of God in the greatest of all gifts — the gift of His beloved Son. But in another sense we do not learn His love from His gifts to the church, for, as we have noted, it is rather His love that gives character to the gifts. Perhaps His greatest gift now is the privilege of knowing Christ and serving Him, and it is the enjoyment of His love in our hearts that will motivate us to want to know about Him and to serve Him. Gifts are a great help in such service, but they are not the motive for it.
The Motive Spring
Thus, in 1 Corinthians 13, we find that love must be the motive spring of the exercise of every gift, or it is nothing. A man may possess the most brilliant gift, but if not used in love, it will profit nothing. One may “understand all mysteries” (vs. 2), have “all knowledge” (vs. 2), and have “all faith” (vs. 2), but without love, he is nothing. Even for one to become a martyr for Christ profits nothing, if love is not in it. This is very searching for all of us. In any service for the Lord, let us always ask ourselves the question, “Is it love that sets me in motion?” First of all there must be love to Christ, that love in us that responds to His love, but then love to others — to sinners who need salvation and to saints who need encouragement. Love has no object to gain but the good of others.
May we continue to “covet earnestly the best gifts” (1 Cor. 12:31), but remember that love must be the motive spring behind the use of gifts and must be that which gives character to them.
W. J. Prost