Epiphany 2 / Ordinary Time 2
Devotional
Water From the Rock
Lectionary Devotional for Cycle C
Object:
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.
-- 1 Corinthians 12:1
It is curious that in talking about spiritual gifts, the first thing that Paul wanted to speak about was the danger of being "enticed and led astray to idols." Why does the topic of spiritual gifts immediately bring to Paul's mind the issue of idolatry? If idolatry is worshiping, or giving worth to, that which is less than God, then are we in danger of giving too much worth, even worshiping, certain spiritual gifts? Isn't a constant source of tension within a church the overvaluing of some people's gifts and devaluing the gifts of others?
To give too much value to the person who has the gift of wealth, the gift of faith, speaking in tongues, or preaching runs the risk of practicing a form of idolatry. The strength of the Christian community is the recognition that "each is given a manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." The danger for the Christian community is to accept the world's criteria for measuring the value of such gifts. The challenge for the Christian community is not to rest until each person's gift is identified and lifted up for the common good. Even the most celebrated gift is only a part of the larger purpose set by God. Later Paul suggested that God might give the greater gifts to the lesser members and the lesser gifts to the more important members (1 Corinthians 12:23).
It would certainly upset the value system of our world if the church recognized this as a given truth. Suddenly those who lacked what the world celebrates as important gifts would be seen as important in God's eyes, and the whole community of faith would find reason to celebrate the life of each of its members. The appeal of the church to the disenfranchised in our society would be overwhelming. Perhaps this is what Jesus meant when in his inaugural sermon in Nazareth, he quoted Isaiah saying, "He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor" (Luke 4:18b).
-- 1 Corinthians 12:1
It is curious that in talking about spiritual gifts, the first thing that Paul wanted to speak about was the danger of being "enticed and led astray to idols." Why does the topic of spiritual gifts immediately bring to Paul's mind the issue of idolatry? If idolatry is worshiping, or giving worth to, that which is less than God, then are we in danger of giving too much worth, even worshiping, certain spiritual gifts? Isn't a constant source of tension within a church the overvaluing of some people's gifts and devaluing the gifts of others?
To give too much value to the person who has the gift of wealth, the gift of faith, speaking in tongues, or preaching runs the risk of practicing a form of idolatry. The strength of the Christian community is the recognition that "each is given a manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." The danger for the Christian community is to accept the world's criteria for measuring the value of such gifts. The challenge for the Christian community is not to rest until each person's gift is identified and lifted up for the common good. Even the most celebrated gift is only a part of the larger purpose set by God. Later Paul suggested that God might give the greater gifts to the lesser members and the lesser gifts to the more important members (1 Corinthians 12:23).
It would certainly upset the value system of our world if the church recognized this as a given truth. Suddenly those who lacked what the world celebrates as important gifts would be seen as important in God's eyes, and the whole community of faith would find reason to celebrate the life of each of its members. The appeal of the church to the disenfranchised in our society would be overwhelming. Perhaps this is what Jesus meant when in his inaugural sermon in Nazareth, he quoted Isaiah saying, "He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor" (Luke 4:18b).
