The Gifts Given (1-23-2022) 1 Cor 12.1-11

When I was a senior in high school, I did something that I had not dreamed of ever doing. I quit singing in the show choir and joined the band. Now I had no experience with any instrument but I had talked to the band director and asked what he thought. He thought about it for a minute and then then said that because I knew the bass scale of music that I should be able to play the tuba. I was not that thrilled, but said that I would give it a shot.

I took a tuba home with me and began to practice. I played scales and tried to read the notes as I tried to get me fingers to go in the correct positions. But I was learning.

Time passed and it came time for band camp. I went to the college where we would stay for a week, got my tuba, and got ready to play. The first day we met as a group and began to play the music that we had to march to in the season coming up. It was a new experience. I heard myself playing, but could hear the other parts as well. It was amazing! I could now hear what the audience would be hearing. Before I had just heard my part and knew what it sounding like. But now, with the whole band playing, I knew what it meant to play as a whole group.

But one thing I learned in the band. There was a hierarchy. At the top was the woodwinds (flutes, clarinets, saxophones), next was the brass with the trumpets at the top, trombones next and the tubas at the bottom of the heap. The only ones lower than the tubas was the percussion section and they seemed to not care about the hierarchy. It was a lesson in diversity and the pecking order of that diversity. But there was also a unity in the whole group in the fact that we all realized that to play the best for the audience, we had to play as a whole with one group no better than another.

Now in the ancient world, the city of Corinth knew diversity. It was cosmopolitan, a trade city and diverse beyond all knowing. People from all over the known world would come to Corinth as it was a port city and well known for its pottery and trade goods. It was also the capital of the province in which it was located.

Another reason for its diversity was that it was a Roman colony that was founded in 46 BC and populated by various freedmen and folks from other locals in the eastern part of the Mediterranean world. And because of those differences one could find Greek, Egyptian, Jewish and many other various temples and houses of worship. It was into this city that Paul came and founded a church. A church of a very diverse population of Gentiles (who had most likely worshiped pagan gods before), Jews and many, many others. A church that had some…. difficulties in knowing what their part in the Church of God was and who had struggles with knowing what the changes that their lives were to be. Paul knew this and the letters of 1 and 2 Corinthians are his side of some lengthy discussions that he has with this church and with the issues that continue to arise with it. One can imagine that were Paul writing to the Corinthians today, Costco sized bottles of Ibuprofen and TUMS would most likely be sitting on the table within easy reach. What we find in today’s text is the longest argument that Paul makes to the Corinthians and it is a doozy.

Apparently, there was some controversy over spiritual things in the church at Corinth. He had to put a stop to the fighting going one in the church to let them know that they were one and that the spiritual things they were so enamored with were for the unity of the church.

Paul launches into his argument by telling the church that he does not want them to be ignorant of spiritual things. Now the people of Corinth knew about spiritual things. There were temples everywhere to all the gods of the Greek and Roman pantheon. There were what are known as mystery religions for those who were not into the traditional worship of the gods. So, there was much spirituality going on in the city of Corinth, just not the type of spirituality of which Paul was speaking.

And in this spirituality, Paul is telling them that they had been pagans, or literally Gentiles. This is to prove that they were not Jews, not part of the chosen ones. But now, now they have been grafted into the body of the chosen people. Now they are following the one true God. No longer are they being enticed (or seduced) to follow mute idols that just sat there and did nothing. They are now led by the active Spirit.

This Spirit is the one who allows them to utter the oldest confession of our faith: Jesus is Lord. This confession can only come from one who is empowered by the Holy Spirit. No one who is speaking by the power of the Spirit can ever say that Jesus is to be cursed. This would have only taken place in their former lives when they turned to the idols that they followed.

What follows this introduction is a listing of spiritual gifts that Paul says the believers in Corinth have. It is important to note that Paul is saying that this all comes from the Spirit. In fact, Paul is so adamant about it that he tells them of the Spirit 8 times in verses 4-11. When a word is used that many times it is best to take notice of what is being said.

Verses 4-6 are important for all Christians. They say this, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.”[1]These verses are important because Paul is making the point that there are a variety, an unlimited amount, of gifts that are given but there is only one who gives them. Though it is not explicit, this is one of the first times that the Trinity is alluded to in scripture. The giver of the gifts may have a different title, but they are all the same person.

And what are those gifts to be used for? Are they to be used to puff up the one using them? Are they given to make the users have a higher place of honor in the church? No, Paul tells us that “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”[2] It is for the good of the church that these gifts are given. The Spirit gives the gifts to build up the church and to make the church more like Christ.

Paul lists several gifts starting with wisdom and knowledge which would have been the most highly prized of the gifts in Corinth. But he qualifies the gift with the statement that the gifts are given by the same Spirit and makes sure that they know that it is the Spirit who gives the gift. Paul then lists other gifts that are given by the Spirit: faith, healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, speaking in tongues and the interpretation of those. Each of these he says are given by the same Spirit.

Just so that they know for sure, Paul finishes with this: “All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.”[3] These gifts are emphatically given by the Spirit. They are given to the people just as the Spirit wants to give them. This could mean that someone from the wrong side of the tracks, a slave even, could be given a gift that was highly prized among the people. One who was wealthy could be given a gift that might have been thought beneath their dignity. This was probably what Paul was wanting to say here. Each one of these gifts is given and each one is as important as the other. There is to be no hierarchy in the gifts that are given to the church. The people are to know what the gifts are and who gives those gifts.

You surely realize why I am speaking from this text today. We will be ordaining and installing new elders shortly. Each member of the session brings certain gifts to the church. Some may be known already as good with numbers, some good with building maintenance, some good with fellowship. But what about others? Would anyone think that an airline mechanic would be gifted by the Spirit as a teacher? Or a medical practice manager whose gift is for missions and caring for the ones Jesus calls the least of these? What about a geologist who has a gift of administration? Or a businesswoman who is fantastic at congregational care? The diversity of gifts that are well known in this church. And each of those who are called to serve are willing to put those gifts to use and not think more highly of themselves than anyone else.

The gifts are given to each of us. While they are given by the unifying Spirit, the gifts are not uniform. They are as diverse as those who utter the confession “Jesus is Lord”. While the we are unified by the confession that “Jesus is Lord” there is nothing that states that we have to be uniform in our beliefs of the things that are not necessary for our salvation. This could be how one dresses, the car one drives, the music one listens to or any of a number of things that we make as barriers to our unity. Our diversity of gifts is something to be celebrated. But in those gifts, and the use of them, we are not to build a hierarchy. Today many are like the Corinthians in believing that certain gifts are better than others and there is a hierarchy that is created that puts some Christians as second class and others on a mountaintop that allows them to look down on others. When this happens, we must remember who it is that gives and activates those gifts. The Spirit gives the gifts to all and it may surprise some, and others, that they have a certain gift. Remember, without the Spirit our gifts are as vapor that burns off in the light and heat of the sun. Today we celebrate that there are those who are willing and able to share their gifts with us for the common good of the church and the community which we serve here in Pilot Mountain. Thanks be to God who is the one who unites us and allows us to continue in our diversity and in our gifts. Amen.

[1] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989. Print. [2] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989. Print. [3] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989. Print.