"How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification."
1 Corinthians 14:26 (NKJV)
When Paul wrote his first letter to the church at Corinth he had to correct some things that were out of order there. Paul said several times that everything in the church needs to be done for edification, to build up others. Here in 1 Corinthians 14:26 Paul mentioned that everyone in the church at Corinth came with something to contribute to the meeting but even then everything had to work together for the good of the whole group. It would be like being invited to a party where each person is asked to bring something to eat so everyone can enjoy the evening.
If Paul was writing to churches today he might say that when everyone came together it would be nice if someone besides the pastor had something to contribute or maybe Paul would say that everyone came with a big need. Although there were some problems in the church in Corinth, people having something to contribute was not one of them. What is really interesting is if you go back to 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 you see that Paul said these were not spiritual people but they were carnal! A group of carnal people, who had problems, but they still came with something to give!
How about us today, do we come together ready to give something? Do we have something to bring that will contribute to the edification of others? We do of course come to church to receive something edifying from God, and that will come through other people, but shouldn't we be able to give something as well? There are plenty of places to get involved in the local church and share the things that God has given us. How can we come ready to give? Spend regular time with God in His Word and by talking with Him in prayer. If we do this we will have something in us that God can use to help edify others through us.
1 Corinthians 14:26 (NKJV)
When Paul wrote his first letter to the church at Corinth he had to correct some things that were out of order there. Paul said several times that everything in the church needs to be done for edification, to build up others. Here in 1 Corinthians 14:26 Paul mentioned that everyone in the church at Corinth came with something to contribute to the meeting but even then everything had to work together for the good of the whole group. It would be like being invited to a party where each person is asked to bring something to eat so everyone can enjoy the evening.
If Paul was writing to churches today he might say that when everyone came together it would be nice if someone besides the pastor had something to contribute or maybe Paul would say that everyone came with a big need. Although there were some problems in the church in Corinth, people having something to contribute was not one of them. What is really interesting is if you go back to 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 you see that Paul said these were not spiritual people but they were carnal! A group of carnal people, who had problems, but they still came with something to give!
How about us today, do we come together ready to give something? Do we have something to bring that will contribute to the edification of others? We do of course come to church to receive something edifying from God, and that will come through other people, but shouldn't we be able to give something as well? There are plenty of places to get involved in the local church and share the things that God has given us. How can we come ready to give? Spend regular time with God in His Word and by talking with Him in prayer. If we do this we will have something in us that God can use to help edify others through us.
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