Our living God Pt 22: Bodies and gifts

1 Corinthians 12:27-31         27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.  28And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.  29Are all apostles?  Are all prophets?  Are all teachers?  Do all work miracles?  30Do all have gifts of healing?  Do all speak in tongues?  Do all interpret?  31Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

The discussion of spiritual gifts within the Church these days is loaded with tension and controversy.  One wing wants to say the utilitarian gifts are necessary but the ecstatic ones like prophecy and speaking in tongues are so subject to abuse that they should be avoided.  The opposite wing says the ecstatic gifts are the means by which God communicates with His people and should be very much encouraged.

You are the Body of Christ

The use of the phrase ‘Body of Christ’ is more than a poetic image; it is a foundational truth for Christian identity and community.  Paul is not merely speaking figuratively—he is describing the spiritual reality of the Church’s role and identity in the world.  When believers come together in Christ, they form a living organism, interconnected and interdependent, each member essential to the whole.  This is why I always capitalize the B in Body…because to expresses the idea that Christ is alive and well and best revealed through the common expression of everyone.

This concept directly challenges any notion of isolated faith.  The Christian life, Paul insists, is not a solo endeavor.  It is not about one person’s journey to heaven or their individual accomplishments in the faith.  Rather, it is about belonging to a community, functioning as part of a larger whole, and contributing to the well-being and mission of that whole.  The metaphor of the body reminds us that we are intimately linked to one another through Christ.  No one is an appendix in the body of Christ—unnecessary or without function.  Every person has a place, a purpose, and a part to play.

Understanding this identity is vital, especially in a world that often celebrates independence over interdependence.  In the body of Christ, strength lies not in uniformity but in unity amidst diversity.  Just as the physical body thrives when its various parts function in harmony, so too does the Church thrive when its members use their unique gifts in service to one another and to God’s kingdom.  This vision demolishes hierarchies of spiritual worth.  It affirms that the preacher, the usher, the singer, the administrator, the encourager, the intercessor—all are equally vital.

This perspective also brings great dignity to every believer.  It reminds each one that their contributions, no matter how visible or hidden, matter deeply to the health and mission of the Church.  A hand cannot say to the eye, “I don’t need you,” nor can the eye say it to the foot.  Such declarations would be absurd—and harmful.  So too in the Church, no gift or member can be dismissed as irrelevant.  We are bound together, and we thrive together.  That is the essence of being the body of Christ.

The various gifts

The variety of gifts Paul describes reveals the richness of God’s design for the Church.  From apostolic leadership to prophetic insight, from teaching wisdom to supernatural miracles and healing, each gift addresses a unique aspect of the Church’s needs.  Some gifts minister to the intellect, others to the heart, still others to physical well-being or spiritual guidance.  Together, they reflect the multifaceted nature of God’s grace and provision.

Notice also the inclusion of “helping” and “guidance” among the gifts.  These might seem mundane compared to miracles or tongues, but Paul intentionally lists them.  This reminds us that the so-called “ordinary” gifts are no less spiritual or essential.  Helping might mean serving behind the scenes, organizing resources, or comforting someone in distress.  Guidance might involve wise counsel or administrative leadership.  These are gifts from God, empowered by the Spirit, and necessary for the functioning of the body.

Paul's emphasis on diverse gifts also counters the Corinthian church's tendency to exalt certain spiritual expressions—particularly speaking in tongues—above others.  In their enthusiasm for dramatic displays of the Spirit, some believers had begun to prioritize certain gifts while disregarding others.  Paul’s corrective is clear: God distributes gifts according to His wisdom, not human preference or prestige.  The Spirit gives gifts “just as he determines” (v.11), and every gift is valuable.

Furthermore, the diversity of gifts means that no one person can embody all that the Church needs.  We need each other.  One believer may have a gift for discernment, another for faith, another for encouragement.  This diversity fosters humility and interdependence.  It also reflects the character of God, who is Himself a Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—distinct yet unified.  As image-bearers of this triune God, we too are called to live in diverse unity.

Desire the greater gifts

Paul concludes this passage with a surprising exhortation: “But eagerly desire the greater gifts.  And yet I will show you the most excellent way” (v.31).  On the surface, this might seem contradictory.  Didn’t Paul just emphasize the equal value of all gifts?  Why then does he encourage believers to desire some over others?

The key lies in understanding what Paul means by “greater.”  The greater gifts are not those that bring personal attention or spiritual prestige.  Rather, they are the gifts that most effectively build up the Church in love.  In the next chapter…1 Corinthians 13…Paul famously describes love as the supreme virtue.  Any gift, no matter how powerful, is worthless without love.  Tongues without love are like “a resounding gong.”  Prophecy without love is “nothing.”  Sacrifice without love “gains nothing.”  Therefore, the “greater” gifts are those that are exercised in and for love.

Paul wants believers to desire gifts that contribute meaningfully to the Church’s growth and unity.  Gifts that edify others, that promote understanding, that bring healing and comfort—these are the greater gifts.  The goal is not self-expression but communal edification.  The gifts of the Spirit are not tools for personal advancement; they are instruments of love in the hands of God.

Desiring greater gifts also speaks to a healthy spiritual ambition.  Paul is not discouraging longing or aspiration. He is channeling it.  It’s good to want to be useful in God’s kingdom.  It’s right to pray for gifts that can bless others.  But that desire must be shaped by love and directed toward service.  Without love, spiritual ambition becomes spiritual pride.  But with love, it becomes a beautiful offering.

What about me?

Although Paul closes this passage by referencing the “greater gifts,” he immediately shifts in the next chapter to a higher priority—the way of love.  This suggests that the most excellent pursuit is not merely the acquisition of spiritual gifts but the cultivation of Christlike love.  The gifts, important as they are, are temporary.  Love, by contrast, is eternal.  It is the atmosphere in which the gifts must operate and the measure by which they are to be evaluated.

The gist of this is that we all are not islands in a storm; everything we do affects somebody else.  And we want that affecting to be affirmative and up-building.  This passage reminds us that the ultimate goal is love—a love that reflects the heart of Christ, the head of the body.  It empowers us to recognize that each of us is needed, chosen, and gifted by God.  But it also humbles us to see that our gifts are not about us.  They are about the body.  They are about others.  They are about love.

In a world fractured by division and obsessed with self, this message is revolutionary.  It invites us into a countercultural community where power is shared, gifts are celebrated without competition, and love is the supreme goal.  It invites us to be the Church—not just in name, but in function.  To live as one body, many parts, animated by the Spirit, and united in love.