The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 404

, ou_t devils; they shal_l spe~k with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they dnnk any deadly thmg, 1t shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover " (Mark xvi. 17, 18). We have in this passage an enumeration of some of these gifts, 'l'he "word of wisdom "-further disclosure of Divine wisdom in .redemption. The "word of knowledge "-ready utterance of truth already revealed. "Faith "-not for salvation, but for the performance of miracle in any special case. "Gifts of healing"-restoring the sick miraculously. "Working ofmiracles"-gene- •.rally, or those of more striking character. "Prophecy "-here probably not inspired teaching of matters already revealed, but the foretelling of events. "Discerning of spirits "-power to determine between God's operation and Satan's or man's. Peter's -dealing with Ananias and Sapphira furnishes an illustration. "Kinds of tongues" -speaking various languages or in the "unknown" spiritual language (eh. xiv. 2). "Interpretation of tongues "-interpreting the foregoing. In the modern Church there are many spiritual gifts, though we do not speak of them as supernatural. As the former were fitted for the needs, of former days, so the latter are for the requirements of the present age. The variety of the gifts in each case is stamped with Divine wisdom and •,is of large advantage; for (1) there are various positions to be filled; (2) various work has to be done; and (3) one gift often supplies the defect of another. II. THEIR OBJECT IS ONE-" TO PROFIT.''· (Ver. 7.) They are not: (1) For mere du- play. (2) For personal aggrandizement. They are : (1) For the welfare of the Church. (2) For the welfare of the individual members. (3) For the welfare of the world. The Church bas a large mission to those outside her pale. She is made rich very largely that she may make them rich. She is placed in a world-parish, that she may carry the gospel of the grace of God to all within the bounds. Her strengthening and enrich- ment are for the world's weal; her special endowments fit her for this grand enterprise. (4) For the glory of God. This is the ultimate object. As the Church's endowments come from God, so should they return to him. The Church is for itself, is for the individual, is for the world,-but these only comparatively; supremely aud specially the Church is for God. And all her gifts and graces should redound to the Divine honour and glory. III. THEIR ORIGIN IS ONE-Gon. They should be used, then: 1. With reverence. ,Our qualifications for Christian service as truly come from God as the ancient gifts of tongues or miracles. We feel that the latter should have been used very reverentially; not more so than the former: both are equally of God. We are God-endowed now as truly as were any of the early Christians, and God-endowments should be used with utmost reverence. 2. With care. Lest the good gift be perverted by ill use. Our gifts may do as much harm if wrongly used, as good if rightly used. 3. With diligence. The value of the earlier gifts we can easily perceive; we need to realize that modern gifts are equally v12luable for modern times. If we felt the value of that which is entrusted to us, we snould be more likely to use it diligently. "Stir up the gift of God which is in thee" (2 '11m. i. 6). 4. With the thougl,t that they will have to be accounted for. These are taleuts, and the 'reckoning day will surely come. The time is short in which they car,, be used. The need of their employment is stupendous. Let none suppose that they are unendowed. "To every man his work;" and never yet wns work given without gift for the work. IV. THEIR DISTDIBUTION IB OF ONE-OF GoD. (Ver. 11.) The choice of our spiritual -gifts does not rest with us. What rests with us is the right employment of those wo possess. To murmur because we are not endowed as others are is worse than foolish ; it is criminal, for it impugns the wisdom and the goodness of God. Somo five-talent men will do nothing because they are not ten-talent men. '!'hey mourn and complait because of what they lack, and certainly they appear to have a large lack-of common sense. We are not the Lord; we are servants, and the great Spirit" divideth to every man severally as he will." Let us take our talents thankfully, use them diligently, and never wrap them up in the napkin of repining and discontent. Our condition was once akin to that of the Corinthians, who were carried away unto "dumb idols" (ver. 2). li'rom the idolatry of sin we have been brought into the Church of the Redeemed, and made the worshippers and servants of the true God. Abounding gratitude should .leave no room for the faiutcst murmur. In truth we have nothing to murmur over, but everything to be devoutly thankful for. 412 THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. [au. xn. 1-31.