1 Corinthians 12:28-31 And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings… I. ALL GOD'S BLESSINGS ARE VALUABLE. Amongst all His gifts there is nothing worthless. A breath of air, a drop of water, a beam of light, a crust of bread are incalculably valuable. Circumstances often occur in men's history when they feel their priceless worth. II. SOME OF THESE BLESSINGS ARE MORE VALUABLE THAN OTHERS. 1. Intellectual than material. 2. Moral than intellectual. Paul says without charity — love — we are nothing. III. THE MOST VALUABLE OF THESE BLESSINGS SHOULD BE EARNESTLY SOUGHT. To covet some of the minor blessings is a sin. But we are justified in coveting these best things, because — 1. There is no monopoly of them. Material good is limited. The more one has of it the less remains for others. But spiritual gifts are as free as air, as vast as immensity, as infinite as God. 2. The more one has of them the more generous he becomes. When a man gets into him this love, it burns up his selfishness and melts him into sympathy with the universe. 3. The more one has of them the more useful to the universe he becomes. The more he reflects God, the more light and happiness he pours forth on the creation. (D. Thomas, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. |
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