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Take stock of your skills. Are you good at talking? Are you a crack typist? Maybe accounting is your forte. How about gardening, listening to someone's emotional needs, understanding Scripture, lovingly caring for children, talking with the elderly, or reading aloud? Chances are you could use any one of these skills for the well-being of someone else and in the process point that person toward Jesus Christ.

It seemed that Christians at Corinth appreciated their own skills and gifts—but they were tempted to showcase some gifts as more important than others. In this chapter Paul talks especially about the spiritual gifts of prophesying and speaking unknown languages, both regarded as spectacular gifts from God. Slowly, carefully, Paul continued his theme present throughout the book: How can you use your skills for the good of the whole church (14:12)? Then he added another note: How can you use your skills in a way that invites others to know Jesus Christ (14:16)?

Every skill or ability you have (whether or not it rates as a "spiritual gift") comes as a present from God. You can thank him for it—and use it for his glory. (See also 1 Samuel 16:14-23; 1 Chronicles 15:1-16:3.)

But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you. 1 Corinthians 14:24, 25

Do you see some skills as more important than others? Why?

Copyright 2001 by the author or Christianity Today International/Christian Bible Studies.

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