Desire The Greater Gifts

July 24th, 2026
by Gary Cheaney

Effective Church Body Ministry

SCRIPTURE:
1 Corinthians 12:31 CSB - But desire the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.

OBSERVATION:
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul provides guidance on ‘spiritual gifts’, reminding the Corinthians that these gifts are not meant to make anyone feel superior to others. However, the gifts are unique because they serve the entire body. All are necessary, and none is more important than the others.

Gracious endowments, leading to miraculous results… these all came by the extraordinary influences of the Holy Spirit. – Adam Clarke

We have no control over the gifts we receive; it is the Holy Spirit's decision. We might choose the things we deem more important, or, even if we don’t want to admit it, those that attract more attention—not to God, but to ourselves. That’s why I believe Paul told the Corinthians not to be ignorant of spiritual gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:1 NKJV - Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:

Our past teaching and experiences may have perhaps built [led to] a poor understanding of the Holy Spirit and His gifts. It is easy for us to take our materialistic or superstitious views into our understanding of spiritual gifts… Paul lays down a broad principle for discerning matters regarding spiritual gifts - judge things by how they relate to Jesus Christ. Does a supposed spiritual gift glorify Jesus? Does it promote the true Jesus or a false one?... The ministry of the Holy Spirit is not to promote Himself or any man, but to glorify and represent Jesus. We can, therefore, trust that the true ministry of the Holy Spirit will be according to the nature of Jesus. – David Guzik

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 CSB - Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. (5) There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person. A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good:

Different gifts, one giver who works through the various gifts to serve the entire Body of Christ—the Church.

Paul continued in the rest of the chapter to discuss the ‘Body Ministry’, emphasizing that no part is more important than another and that even if a part is more visible, it isn't more important than those that are hidden.

1 Corinthians 12:18-20 CSB - But as it is, God has arranged each one of the parts in the body just as he wanted. And if they were all the same part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

APPLICATION:
Charles Spurgeon was deeply convinced of this body mentality and believed that everyone should contribute to Christ's work, as he stated:

I want every member of this church to be a worker. We do not want any drones. If there are any of you who want to eat and drink, and do nothing, there are plenty of places elsewhere, where you can do it; there are empty pews about in abundance; go and fill them, for we do not want you. Every Christian who is not a bee is a wasp. The most quarrelsome persons are the most useless, and they who are the most happy are peaceable, are generally those who are doing most for Christ. – Charles Spurgeon.

Body ministry is essential, and the Holy Spirit gives us gifts to strengthen others, not for personal recognition.

1 Corinthians 12:26 CSB - So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

At the end of the fourth century and into the Middle Ages, the gifts were said to have ceased, and they were certainly neglected. But that wasn’t God’s desire. It was the result of people who convinced themselves that the supernatural working of the Holy Spirit was too “dangerous” for the institutional church. – David Guzik.

1 Corinthians 12:31 CSB - But desire the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.

The Holy Spirit gives us gifts and empowers us to use them to build up the Body of Christ and glorify Jesus. He gives the gifts, and we should pray for the best gifts—those that will bring the greatest honor and glory to Jesus and best serve the Body of Christ, the Church.

Paul would add the closing statement – ‘And I will show you an even better way.’ The greatest of these is love – love keeps us humble in our gifts and guides us to bring greater glory to God through them.

1 Corinthians 13:13 CSB - Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love -- but the greatest of these is love.

PRAYER:
Jesus, please empower me with the greatest gift of love—Your love and heart to serve the Body of Christ. In that love, may I be guided and strengthened with the best gifts to bring about the greatest ministry to the church and glory to You.

The greatest care for others comes through the gifts of the Holy Spirit, leading to the edification of the Body of Christ – the Church.

Posted in 07 - 1 Corinthians