1 Corinthians 12:3b-11

“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” vs. 7

Paul’s words to the Corinthians undermine one of the basic assumptions of contemporary Christianity, namely, that we engage in spiritual practices for the sake of strengthening our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That sounds good and it speaks to our love of individualism as a national creed. But it wasn’t Paul’s vision of the Church. His phrase “for the common good” implies that believers will not just be looking for faith practices that will be good for themselves. Rather, Paul taught that the Holy Spirit calls us into relationship with one another and that the gifts we are given are meant to strengthen the community, and not just our personal faith.

That’s probably the major reason people of faith who move to a new city or neighborhood cannot really be at peace until they feel part of a community or a congregation. They know how important it is to be connected and have come to believe that they have gifts that can be put at the disposal of the whole. What a blessing it is when such persons stumble into a Spirit-filled congregation that is able to identify and use their gifts! This is when the Church is at its best!

Personal spiritual growth can be a wonderful thing, but there is nothing more vital to our faith than connecting with a body that can actually use and multiply our gifts for the common good.

Thought for the Day: How am I using my gifts in my community?