Today the apostle speaks about the spiritual gifts given to believers. In Paul's day many miraculous gifts were manifested among believers, such as the power to work signs and wonders or the ability to speak in languages the person had not been taught. He reminds the believers that they are to keep their focus on Christ and not on manifestations of spiritual gifts. It wasn't so long ago that they were idolaters, caught up in ignorant superstition and persuaded by the acts of the "magicians" of their day to bow down to false gods. They must be careful not to put too much emphasis on miracles, or else they will come care more about the gifts than about the Giver. There is also the danger that they will be deceived by those who pretend to be in the Spirit but whose agenda is to lead them astray.
"Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, 'Jesus be cursed,' and no one can say, 'Jesus is Lord,' except by the Holy Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:1-3) This is the test they are to use when judging whether a teacher or a worker of signs and wonders really belongs to Christ. No one who belongs to Christ will blaspheme His name. If the person's attitude toward Christ is wrong, the believers shouldn't listen to a word he says. Does the person who displays mighty gifts honor the Lord with his manner of living? Does that person proclaim Jesus as Lord and submit to Him as Lord? Then that person is the real deal.
The church at Corinth appears to be placing more value on some spiritual gifts than on others, and because of this they are placing more value on persons who possess the gifts that are deemed more worthy. Paul reminds them that all spiritual gifts are bestowed by the same Spirit. How can they esteem one gift higher than another? How can they esteem one believer higher than another? They are all saved by the same Lord and they are all blessed by the same Spirit. "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work." (1 Corinthians 12:4-6)
I would like to add that we shouldn't think of ourselves as less worthy than someone else simply because we have different gifts than someone else. The Spirit has distributed gifts to each of us according to our personalities, our backgrounds, and our sphere of influence. He has distributed to each of us the gifts by which we can best glorify the Lord. The gifts you have been given by the Spirit are exactly the right gifts for you. Don't envy the gifts of others. Don't look down on yourself because you possess different gifts than others. For instance, I would love to have a beautiful singing voice. I enjoy singing while I work around the house and I enjoy singing praises to the Lord while driving in the car. Unfortunately my voice is better suited for singing in private than for singing in public. The Lord honors the praises I sing to Him in private, but He did not instruct the Spirit to gift me with a voice that should be used for a solo in church. Does this mean that the gifts the Spirit has given me are of lesser value? Of course not! The Spirit may not have given you the gifts you would have chosen for yourself, but He has given you the gifts that are right for you.
"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He distributes them to each one, just as He determines." (1 Corinthians 12:7-11) Whatever spiritual gifts you have been given, use them with all your might for the glory of the Lord. Don't envy the gifts of others; your gifts are just as important. Don't think of yourselves as "less" than someone else; you are just as loved by Christ as they are. The Lord knows what He's doing and He knows you better than anyone else will ever know you. This makes Him the perfect one to choose the perfect gift for you.
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