1 Corinthians 12:12-32a

A decade ago, a pilot was forced to land a large jet on the Hudson River. Miraculously, everyone survived. Reflecting on the incident, the pilot explained that all of his training and experience over 40 years had prepared him for that moment. In the same way, our gifts and skills often come from a combination of experiences—sometimes suddenly, sometimes gradually—perfectly timed for God’s purpose.

Throughout the Bible, we see how God uses people to fulfill God’s work. No role in the church is greater or lesser than another—whether it’s the preacher, the pastor, or the steward. Each role serves a unique purpose. As Paul writes in today’s passage, "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit; there are different kinds of service, but the same Lord; there are different kinds of working, but the same God works in all people."

The purpose of spiritual gifts is to build up the community, but these gifts must be used with love. Any talent or skill we have, when used to help others or improve the world, can be seen as a gift from the Spirit.

Today’s lesson is from Paul’s letter to the Corinthian Church. Historically, Corinth was a bustling city—full of government, commerce, wealth, sports, and sin. It was like a combination of Washington, Los Angeles, New York, and Las Vegas. At the time of Paul, Corinth was prosperous, with a diverse population that included Greeks, foreigners, and Jews. There was even a synagogue in the city. Yet, it was also a place where immorality ran rampant. The patron deity of the city was Aphrodite, the goddess of love, whose temple was staffed by a thousand prostitutes.

In 51 AD, Paul brought the gospel to Corinth and spent eighteen months planting a vibrant church. However, five years later, Paul heard reports of divisions and conflicts tearing the community apart. Various factions had emerged, each with their own views on who was the true leader. Some followed Paul, others Apollo, some Peter, and some claimed allegiance only to Christ. Paul was deeply troubled by these divisions. He asked them, “Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Cor. 1:12).

The church was deeply divided, even to the point of bringing disputes to secular courts. Paul had to write letters to the Corinthians because it was not the church that God and Paul wanted. He was very upset with the Corinthian church situation. (I am thankful that our church is peaceful, unlike the Corinthian church.)

 Paul reminded them that, as believers, they were all part of the body of Christ, and each person had an important role.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians with a conviction that their divisions could only be healed by embracing the love of Jesus Christ, not through his own teachings, but through the grace of God experienced by the Holy Spirit. The Corinthians were gifted, but they were using their gifts for their own purposes, rather than for the good of the church. Their pride in their abilities was causing disunity, and they were failing to build up the body of Christ.

In today’s epistle, Paul emphasizes the diversity of gifts: some are apostles, others are prophets, teachers, healers, leaders, or speak in tongues. These gifts, though varied, are all meant for one purpose: to build up the body of Christ in love. The gifts God gave us are to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12). If our gifts are not used to strengthen and improve the church, they risk becoming sources of chaos or self-glorification. God is a God of peace, and all things in the church should be done decently and in order.

Though the gifts may vary, the Spirit is one. The services we offer may differ, but the Lord is the same. There are many different works, but it is the same God who empowers all. Our skills, talents, and gifts are all from God, meant to be used for God’s kingdom.

When we use our gifts with love, we make the world a better place and contribute to building up the church. The purpose of our gifts is to equip the members of the body for ministry and to help us grow together in unity and maturity in the faith. We are called to use all that we’ve been given, wherever we are, for the benefit of church and the glory of God.

Let us use our gifts and skills with love, without expecting recognition or reward, and for the joy of serving our Lord. In doing so, we will better understand the difference between the gifts and fruits of the Spirit. May God bless us all as we seek to build up the body of Christ. Amen.