As we learn from 1 Corinthians 12–14, the Christians in Corinth were especially interested in the spiritual gift of tongues. Evidently, believers who spoke in unknown languages received a great deal of attention. This led to pride and to spiritually unprofitable meetings. Chapter 14 emphasizes instead that the great need is to build each other up spiritually: “Let all things be done for edification” (14:26). The verse above says we should “earnestly desire the best gifts,” and this is repeated and explained in 1 Corinthians 14:39: “desire earnestly to prophesy.” In the era before the New Testament was completed, one who prophesied would speak “edification and exhortation and comfort” (14:3), revealing God’s mind about doctrine and Christian living. Thus, the “best gifts” were those which provided timely, instructive messages from God that all could understand. The need for timely, biblical ministry to suit the same purposes still continues today.

However, there is a “more excellent way” to remember when we consider spiritual gifts. It is the way of love, as 1 Corinthians 13 explains. Love is not listed among the spiritual gifts; rather, it is the essential atmosphere for exercising any of them. A similar passage in Romans 12:6–8, which also outlines a number of spiritual gifts, is followed there by verse 9: “Let love be without hypocrisy.”

As Christians, we should seek to know our gifts. When James spoke of spiritual teachers, he used the pronoun “we,” showing that he knew God desired to use him in that capacity (Jas. 3:1). But even if we might be uncertain about our gifts, we can move straight into love, for in the atmosphere of Christian love we will always desire to serve one another.