Seek the Good of Others 1 Corinthians 14:13-26 July 27, 2014 www.wordforlifesays.com (Please Note: All lesson verses and titles are based on International Sunday School Lesson/Uniform Series 2010 by the Lesson Committee, but all content/commentary written within is original to wordforlifesays.com unless properly quoted/cited) Introduction: Any spiritual gift one receives from God is not for their personal benefit. Rather, the gifts He has placed inside each of us is for the building up of His church; for the edifying of His people. 1 Peter 4:10-11 says, As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion ever and ever. Amen. Any gift given is for the purpose to minister, or serve one to another. With the end result that God in all things may be glorified. In our lesson, as with other issues that Paul has dealt with concerning the church at Corinth, division and confusion has reared its head again in another fashion. This time the arguments come from the proper use of spiritual gifts, particularly those surrounding the speaking of other tongues and prophesy.
These gifts were being sought after and misused from their intended purpose. How the gift served one on a personal level became more important than servicing God s house on a spiritual level. 1 Corinthians 14:13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. In the verse prior to this, verse 12, Paul says, Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. Plain and simple, gifts are to be other s centered. The Apostle Paul spent a significant portion of this first letter to the Corinthian Church in dealing with instructions and use of spiritual gifts. In 1 Corinthians 12:1 he opens by saying, Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. After explaining the diversities of gifts, (vs. 4), and the diversities of operation, (vs. 6), and how the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal, (vs. 7); Paul asks these questions: Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? (1 Corinthians 12:29-30). Then Paul explains, Covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way, (1 Corinthians 12:31). That more excellent way is love which is an important point considering we are discussing seeking the good of others. Hopping over to 1 Corinthians 13, a chapter many study solely on a love stance, and rightly so because nothing outside of God s gift of love, Jesus Christ, explains so wonderfully what true love is. Yet, this chapter that explains love so fervently is sandwiched between two chapters that deal with gifts and the usage thereof, and so should also be viewed and studied from that standpoint. Referencing the gifts with it and providing an example, then tying it all together into the love theme of 1 Corinthians 13, Paul opens this chapter by saying,
Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, and hath not charity, I am becoming as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. This focus of having love present with the operation of gifts is the more excellent way Paul was teaching in chapter 12. It is also paramount in today s lesson Seek the Good of Others, for in it we learn to look beyond ourselves for the betterment of others which is the purpose of gifts anyhow. That s why he opens the chapter we are studying today with this three-word exhortation, Follow after charity... (1 Corinthians 14:1, not in today s lesson). In this chapter it appears the controversy between speaking in tongues and prophesying were bringing confusion to the church. But, Paul explained it like this: PERSONAL USE Speaking in Tongues: Vs. 2 Speaks not to men, but to God. vs. 2 No man understands him... in the spirit he speaks. Vs. 4 Edifies himself Vss. 5-6 Needs interpretation. Not beneficial to the church without it. Vs. 7-8 Even instruments have distinct sounds to be understood. CHURCH USE Prophesying: Vs. 3 Speaks to unto men edification, and exhortation, and comfort. Vs. 4 Edifies the church. Vs. 5 Is the greater gift in church as opposed to speaking in tongues. When it comes to the church, not on a personal level, Paul wants everyone in the building to benefit. So, in agreement with what he already stated in verses 5-6, Paul encourages the one that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret; so that all can reap good from the experience andnot just be as one that shall speak into the air, (vs. 9); without signification, (vs. 10). Interpretation was and is necessary to be understood. 1 Corinthians 14:14-17 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit,
and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. In these verses the word understanding appears four times in one form or another, and seven times throughout our lesson text which really opens one s eye to the message Paul was teaching here. If understanding is the heart of the message he is pushing, then misunderstanding had taken over and caused confusion. Later in this chapter, (not in today s text), Paul explains to the church at Corinth, God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints, (1 Corinthians 14:33). God s services; God s church is to work in harmony with one another to build up, not to divide and cause misunderstanding. That s not what the gifts are for. He explained, If I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. Even on a personal level, without interpretation one s own understanding is unfruitful; meaning there is nothing intellectually gained that can contribute to their spiritual growth. God is not in the business of keeping people in the dark about His will. Whatever one does in the church; be it to pray or sing, all of it needs to be done with understanding. How can the individual, let alone the Church be served by these gifts without it? Not only does it not Seek the Good of Others, but it s not helping the individual either. Another example Paul gives is when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? If one is speaking strictly in tongues, without interpretation, it leaves people for a loop on how to properly respond to what is being said. If I were to go to a foreign land on a trip without being fluent in the local language, I could not ask for help or properly respond to questions or statements
directed toward me. If I can t properly understand what is being said, how can I properly respond? One could be in the church, blessing God with the best possible thanks in the world, but if no one understands what is being said they can t give a shout of Amen! they can t get into agreement with what was said because they don t know what was said. It s kind of like worshiping in the dark with eyes wide open; looking for an opportunity to respond and get with it but can t due to lack of understanding. For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. Gifts should never leave others in the dark of God s blessings. 1 Corinthians 14:18-19 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. Paul never denies the speaking of tongues. He testifies, I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all (shock face!). In this area of speaking in tongues, which the Corinthian Church seems to be zealous for, Paul s exclamation is, I out do all of you! But, what Paul was essentially getting at and saying is, Give me a choice to how I would like my operations in the church to be and I will tell you this: In the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. As a teacher of God s Word, Paul knows that five words with... understanding far outweighs ten thousand words that no one can understand. Using my foreign land example again, a simple sentence on how to order food, find directions, or yes, even a local restroom understood would do me a lot more good than trying to hear somebody rattle on and converse on and on and I have not a clue what they are saying. The same principle applies here.
1 Corinthians 14:20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. Be not children in understanding. Was Paul calling them out? Was he stating that in their zealous pursuit of speaking in tongues, they were negating their responsibility in the church of being understood, therefore acting like children? It would seem so. Their contentions over this issue were causing reasons, once again, for confusion and arguments. So Paul states, In malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. My interpretation of this, Stop arguing and grow up! It was time to stop being childish and man up! 1 Corinthians 14:21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the LORD. Paul then pulls out an Old Testament example to open up their understanding of their lack of understanding (I did that play on words on purpose). In Isaiah 28:11-12 it says, For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. God reveals His Word, with understanding, but it is the people who would not hear. Basically Paul was saying, Don t be as those who it was said of, For all that will they not hear me. Don t be like that! It doesn t help you and it doesn t help the church. 1 Corinthians 14:22-25 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made
manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not. Those that already believe don t need signs. So why were they working so hard after this particular sign in the church? To impress another? To win one another? Christ already has them members of His body. Christ has already won them. Tongues as a sign was an impactful force of ministry on the day of Pentecost. Acts 2 describes the events of the day in great detail. Verses 1-4 describe the initial infilling when they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance, (Acts 2:4). Acts 2:5-12 describe the witness and impact of that infilling to those that believe not, as our lesson today discusses. Those tongues became a sign to the people who were there out of every nation under heaven, (acts 2:5); and they were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language, (Acts 2:6). The sign of tongues along with Peter s powerful sermon that day added about three thousand souls to the church, (Acts 2:41). But prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. Whereas prophesying was for those who are already members of Christ s body. It is teaching based on helping the members to learn and grow in their spiritual maturity. If the whole church come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? This goes back to the first verse of our lesson where Paul stresses the importance of needing someone to interpret when one speaketh in an unknown tongue. Paul basically was telling the Church to imagine someone who is not a member coming in. Upon their arrival, sitting in the pew, all they see is people speaking in
tongues (to paraphrase to today s experiences). Nobody is explaining God s Word in a coherent fashion. No one is expounding the Scriptures to draw men closer to Him. Everyone is just speaking in tongues. Without interpretation; without clear teaching of the Word, what would people think? They would think you are mad, as Paul puts it. How then is that benefiting or seeking the good of others? But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all. When the Word is properly communicated in the church amongst the believing, it can make a positive impact in the lives of all the hearers whether they believeth not or are unlearned. If the Word is clearly understood it would persuade them to believe all the more. if those in the Church at Corinth really want to Seek the Good of Others, making the Word of God accessible and easier to obtain should be a goal. The more it is understood the more help it can be to convict of sins and build up faith and lives. And thus are the secrets of his heard made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. The Word of God can get into the crevices of a man s life like nothing else. It reaches deep down in one s inner most being, places where only God can go and open up the treasuries of his heart. For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the diving asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, (Hebrews 4:12). Properly represented, God s clear Word expressed can do more than a whole church speaking in languages, without interpretation, that can t be understood. It will hit in the secrets of his soul, compelling him, and so falling down on his face he will worship God. Is that not the desired result from a clear understanding of the Word of God; humbly prostrating one s body and one s heart before God? Here is the description of laying oneself out before God, showing Him reverence and honor and obeisance at His clear revelation. And a report that God is in you of a truth. The Word will be accepted that God is in you of a truth and will spread. When people s lives are changed by a clear revelation of God they want to tell others all about it; report it.
Remember the woman at the well? When Christ revealed Himself to her clearly she couldn t contain herself. She left her waterpot and ran back to the city to report or tell others all about Him, John 4. When people know that God is in you of a truth it brings life-changing affect and blesses others also. 1 Corinthians 14:26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. It seemed that everyone was doing their own things with wrong motives, for Paul had to tell them, Let all things be done unto edifying. No matter what God has given us to do; no matter the gifts of operation, all should work toward the same goal of building up one another; therefore, building up the body of Christ. Conclusion: Every gift God has given us is for the profit of the whole church. Continue reading verses 1 Corinthians 14:27-33. Be blessed.