Gifts should only be expressed within the framework of love

Frequently, we observe in the church a false polemic between believers who emphasize order in worship, and those who insist on freedom and spontaneity in the Spirit when the church gathers together to worship.

Many churches are so insistent on an orderly, well-choreographed service that they constrain the Spirit and stake the free flow of the blessings that God wants to send to His children while praising Him with freedom and enthusiasm. Others so want to give the Spirit free flow that they go to the other extreme. They disdain structures, forget about time limits, admit any emotional expression or any impulse from siblings, and end up creating an unhealthy mix of unbridled emotionalism and genuine expressions of God's move in service.

Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 14 to establish a healthy balance between the two extremes. It establishes as a point of judgment elements such as love and consideration for others; care for new believers and non-believers in worship; a spirit of service to others; and the priority of seeking the edification of others before personal satisfaction. These are the values that exalt the fundamental principles of the Gospel, the noble attitudes that truly reflect the spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ, who emptied and inconvenienced himself to serve and save others.

The apostle Paul calls us to put love and the spirit of service to others above the free expression of gifts, especially when we are in the context of worship. In service, before satisfying ourselves by expressing any emotional or even spiritual impulse, we must consider what effect our behavior may have on those around us.

We should not do anything just to edify ourselves. Our primary purpose should be above all to bless and edify those who worship the Lord with us. That is why Paul says - and encourages us to imitate him - "I would rather speak five words with my understanding, to also teach others, than ten thousand words in an unknown language". The overriding value here is not expressing or edifying myself. It is not even giving public expression to a genuinely spiritual energy. Rather, it is expressing the love of Christ, exempting myself from doing something that may cause confusion or be a stumbling block to the weak and ignorant person.

In short, it is about glorifying the kind and considerate spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ, imitating him in his gentle and generous behavior. That is the highest of all praises, the highest expression of the compassionate and loving Spirit of our heavenly Father. By imitating the Lord in His infinite love and compassion, we exalt Him in an unsurpassed way.

Many Christians earnestly seek gifts, and when they can, they practice love. That is why we have so many "Corinthian churches," with many gifts and little love, many manifestations, and many divisions.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14: 1, "Follow love and seek spiritual gifts." That is the authentic order of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: First, express the love, the spirit of self-denial and sacrifice that brought Christ to the cross. Then expressing spiritual gifts within the framework and limitations of love, which will always produce glory for God and edification for God's children. May God make us "children in malice, but mature in thought" (1 Cor. 14:20).

If you want to deepen this reflection, I recommend that you study the sermon entitled " Do everything for edification ”.