The Right Perspective

Bible Reading (May 25)

• 1 Kings 9-10
• Psalm 73
• 1 Corinthians 14

What Spiritual Gift is God giving me for my growth today, that I can share with others? (Rom 1:11)

As the queen of Sheba reflects on what she witnessed of Solomon’s wisdom and the majesty of the kingdom God had built, she says, (1 Kings 10:8-9) “How happy your people must be! What a privilege for your officials to stand here day after day, listening to your wisdom! Praise the Lord your God, who delights in you and has placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king so you can rule with justice and righteousness.”

May that be how we feel when we reflect on what God has given to us through the Holy Spirit! God delights in you! What a privilege to have the Holy Spirit in us, with all the wisdom of God at our finger tips, just waiting for us to ask Him! Praise Him for His incredible gift!

What encouraged me in my faith? (Rom 1:12)

Gaining the right perspective

How often do we look around and compare our lives with others? I was just talking to someone the other day who was doing that, and asking the question, “What is wrong with me that I don’t have, or don’t experience what they do?” Asaph was doing that in Psalm 73, and he says, “My feet were slipping, I was almost gone, because I envied the proud.” (V2). It’s easy to look at others lives and see them as “having it all together.” “They have the perfect life.” When we focus on comparing with others, it only leads to bitterness. Ps (73:21-22) “Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant— I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.”

I too need what Asaph discovered. It’s only in God’s presence that we can gain the right perspective. (Ps 73:17-18) And it’s there we find relief from anxiety and worry, and find rest for our soul. “Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. (Ps 73:22-26)

What spiritual fruit does God want to work in me? What can I share with others that God can use to produce fruit among them also? (Rom 1:13)

Reading through 1 Cor 12-14 it is so clear that God desires for us to not live for ourselves, but to live for the benefit of his body.  While these chapters talk about the different gifts God has given to His body, the whole emphasis is on serving one another with what He has given us! Here’s a few examples:

• 1 Cor 12:7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.
• 1 Cor 12:11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. 
• 1 Cor 12:18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where HE wants it.
• 1 Cor 12:25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other.
• 1 Cor 12:31 So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all. – Love 
• 1 Cor 13:1-3 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. 
• 2 Cor 14:1-4 Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God.. But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.  (6) if I bring you a revelation or some special knowledge or prophecy or teaching, that will be helpful
• 1 Cor 14:12 And the same is true for you. Since you are so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek those that will strengthen the whole church.
• 1 Cor 14:16-17 For if you praise God only in the spirit, how can those who don’t understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they don’t understand what you are saying? You will be giving thanks very well, but it won’t strengthen the people who hear you.

The point of 1 Corinthians 14 is not to glorify tongues, but to emphasize God’s purpose to build up the body. (By the way, I don’t believe tongues here is referring to unknown / ecstatic speech, I can send you my notes on why if you’d like). Loving one another, building each other up, working together to fulfil what Paul said in Ephesians 4:12-13, “that WE ALL will be mature in the Lord measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. May this be the focus of our interactions and how we relate to those around us.