But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every believer in the church, not to the world at large, as a measure of help to draw the heart to Christ and mold character without forcing the will. It is given to each one to profit all withal, for the common good and benefit of others rather than for self, strife or personal gain. The same Spirit and the same God divides diversities of gifts, operations and kinds of work to each one as He wills, appointing to every member his own work, place and post of duty. These varied gifts, from wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues and interpretation to speech, intellect, taste, skill and refinement, make believers many members yet one body in Christ with Jesus as head, center and source of life. Gifts given to bless others increase by faithful use and diminish and are at last withdrawn if kept for self, so no one is excused from serving and even the smallest gift is to be valued, improved and traded upon in its own sphere.
Meaning of the Words
"Every man" means every believer in the church, not every person in the world. The Christian age began with the outpouring of the Spirit and so abundant a manifestation of varied gifts that every member received a manifestation of the Spirit for the common profit.
A measure of the Spirit is given to every person to profit withal as a helper to draw mind and heart to Christ. Through the ministry of angels the Holy Spirit works upon mind and heart to draw each person to Christ, who paid the ransom to rescue the sinner from slavery to sin and Satan. He does not interfere with human freedom nor force obedience, but is given as helper so the human agent may cooperate with the Divine. Christ, who gives the Holy Spirit as Mediator, is ready to impart all heavenly influences, knowing every temptation and capability, weighing each person's strength, seeing present and future, setting obligations before the mind, and urging that common earthly things not absorb the mind so eternal things are lost. The Lord has fullness of grace for everyone who will receive the heavenly gift, bringing God-entrusted capabilities into Christ's service and molding and fashioning the human agent according to the divine pattern as he earnestly desires transformation. The atonement made on Calvary is thus brought into contact with the soul to transform character and change nature until it is said in heaven that men are laborers together with God, wearing Christ's yoke and bearing His burden. Through sanctification of the Spirit and the imputed righteousness of Christ the paralyzed moral agency is quickened and reinvigorated with spiritual life, placed on vantage ground to become a light directing souls in right paths and drawing souls to Jesus, a channel through whom the Holy Spirit can work without pleading in vain, not as one who having eyes sees not, having ears hears not, and having heart will not understand.
The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every person to profit all withal, for the common good and benefit of others, not for self, strife, or personal gain. The same Spirit gives diversities of gifts and the same God works diversities of operations and kinds of work, dividing to each one as He wills. They equip believers for distinct kinds of service that are to work together in harmony as members of one body whose head is Jesus Christ, so as many members with different offices are one body, many believers with different gifts are one body in Christ. Because members do not all act the same part, no member is self-sufficient and none may say to another, I have no need of thee. Among the members there is to be no crowding, no judging, and no measuring of one gift by another, for many gifts are called for yet all are members of one body, and God does not give everyone the same work. This requires purposeful, not haphazard, work in ministry and medical missionary lines, each serving in his own gift with sincere love, abhorring evil, cleaving to good, kindly affectioned with brotherly love, in honor preferring one another, and following this plan brings less friction in the work. Practicing this is of vital importance now above all other times in earth's history, for leaving it out brings discord and strife, dishonors God, withholds the power He desires to impart, and keeps His people from doing the work that would glorify His name before the world and before the heavenly universe.
The manifestations include the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, divers kinds of tongues and interpretation of tongues. They also include speech, intellectual ability, good taste, skill, refinement and true elevation, which become a great power for good in God's work when first placed under His jurisdiction with the Lord's presence as the controlling power. Coveting earnestly the best gifts does not mean seeking to be first, but striving earnestly for power to follow Christ's example and be heralds of His gospel, with heart blended with the heart of Christ and desires and practices conformed to the will of Christ. This is true religion, kept by walking straight forward in blessed, holy light even when temptations, suspicion, and evil surmising make it hard to preserve the spirit of the higher life.
The verse fulfills Christ's promise to send the Holy Spirit as Comforter and guide to lead into all truth by manifestations of the Spirit given to every man for profit. These are certain gifts of the Spirit placed in the church for its edification and instruction to the end of time, needed especially as the church enters the perils of the last days. The Spirit of truth is given to every man to profit withal, Christ is the Light that lights every man, the light shines now, and the wisdom of God guides every true, humble, devoted worker. Those who behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and look to Christ as Center and Lifegiver are to arise and shine because the glory of God is risen upon them.
Giver and Distribution
The same Spirit and the same God give diversities of gifts, operations and kinds of work, dividing to each one as He wills and dispensing one gift to one person and another gift to another. It is His order that some shall serve in one line of work and others in other lines, including teaching others to fit them for service, yet all work under the self-same Spirit and all is given for the good of the whole body. Recognizing this plan guards against rivalry, pride, envy, contempt and carnal emulation of one another, and strengthens unity and mutual love.
He appoints each worker his own lot, place and post of duty, directing each servant by impressing heart and mind where to go and what to do, so all do not have the same form of work to do. As Bezalel and Aholiab received wisdom, understanding, knowledge and skill to build the tabernacle, so no one person receives all knowledge and wisdom, but different gifts and abilities are given for the work to be done and for the benefit of the work and those it serves. Taking on responsibilities not appointed can confuse the worker and interfere with the work that would spread truth and prepare people for the coming crisis, and remaining in appointed work instead of stepping out to take other interfering duties is how the gift profits the whole work. Because direction comes from the Lord by His Holy Spirit, spiritual grace is not given to one man to make him lord and chief over all physicians and other medical missionaries to control their efforts by his authority, and no man handling sacred responsibilities should arbitrarily say to a fellow worker what he shall or shall not do or forbid any work God has bidden to be carried forward. Every gospel minister and medical worker called by God is to be respected in his place, with Christ working through all ministering brethren alike in perfect and complete unity between medical missionary workers and the gospel ministry, with no division and no carrying things in one's own way irrespective of the Lord's other workers, each finding out what the Master would have him to do and then doing that work in connection with other laborers, whether sacred or secular, in business lines, in the ministry of the Word, or in various trades, serving with whole heart, mind, soul and strength. God would have His work carried forward soundly and healthfully under His supervision, with each man having his own post of duty in the great whole and recognizing God's ownership of himself and his powers, so that his whole life and every act becomes a consecrated act.
The setting of the gifts in the church as God pleases does not mean every individual exercises every gift, for the manifestations of the Spirit are divided among the members as He pleases. If a gift is bestowed upon even one member, that gift is in the church and the church has it. This explains how the last generation of Christians can have the testimony of Jesus, or the gift of prophecy, without every believer being a prophet.
No one person has every ability or enough wisdom and qualification to carry out the work alone, but different minds and gifts are needed, and each gift has its proper place in preparing people for Christ's coming. The gifts differ in kind and measure, and every gift, even the smallest, is to be valued and used according to the ability given, with diligent use able to enlarge capability and God able to use a small gift when exercised in faith. Belittling another person's work or talents dishonors God, for God determines the worth of the gifts and the power to use them, so each person should develop what is given without despising or envying the gifts and work of others, without pride or self-credit, and without complaint of smallness. The varied gifts and differing traits of members are needed for God's work and are to be used in harmony, helping one another, with members depending on one another and working together as one body, and the gifts placed in the church are to be recognized while all things are tested and only what is good is retained. God has work even for people with limited religious or intellectual training when they serve humbly and trust in Him.
To every individual member is given his own personal work and gift to profit the cause as moral and spiritual capital entrusted to him, and not one is excused, for no one can be an idler in the vineyard of the Lord but all are to be diligent laborers together with God. Every son and daughter has a work appointed with powers from God to do it, and growth in grace is proved by efficiency in service through earnest work and self-denial, with no slothful servants and no idle members, each learning by exercising abilities how to work most efficiently, how to give a testimony, how to pray, and how to be a living witness. Every man and woman has his or her own peculiar sphere and vocation in spiritual things, and even little work may glorify God, so as the rill does not refuse its narrow channel because it is not a river, the grass does not refuse to grow because it is not a stately tree, and the star does not refuse to shine because it is not the sun, everything is to do its appointed work without murmuring at its position. The interest required is proportionate to the amount of entrusted capital, according to the measure of the gift, and no one is accountable for talents never had. Everyone is to trade on what is entrusted, working where he can and doing the best possible service, appreciating what is given and never treating it with indifference. Every living soul has talents to be improved to the very best account for the profit of others, with each having an individual, personal work to perfect Christian character and to act a part in God's firm in the world, bringing sunshine, pleasantness, agreeableness, joy and happiness into the lives of others by words and speech, with no cross, hasty or passionate speeches, because no one lives to himself, and faithfulness in this prepares for mansions in the city of God. Students should be prepared to serve faithfully in the kind of work for which they are best suited, for all have not the same gift and there is a variety of gifts, all needed to do the work appointed.
Unity of the Body
As many members with different offices form one body, so many believers with different gifts form one body in Christ, with Jesus as head and center and source of all life and power, each filling a proper place according to ability as part of one great whole joined to God in which no one can become detached and independent. The figure of the members composing the body represents the church and the relation its members should sustain to one another, and 1 Corinthians 12 with 1 Corinthians 13 is to be committed to memory and written in mind and heart so that those brought together in church capacity will be united understandingly and intelligently in humble obedience. Every member is given a share to promote the happiness and welfare of all others, trained in humble dependence on the all-sufficient God to become a consecrated channel through which His love flows to others, finding personal happiness in making others happy and advancing toward perfection of Christian character by coming nearest to the character of Jesus Christ.
No member is self-sufficient and none may say to another, I have no need of thee, for no one with his gift alone is capable of carrying through a series of meetings and giving perfection to the work. Varied gifts and different kinds of agencies are essential under divine direction to build the work up strong, proportional, and complete, and to keep one mind from molding and fashioning the work after its special ideas, with harmonious cooperation in which each does his God-given work in his appropriate position and each supplies the deficiency of a workman who, left alone, would think himself a complete whole. The deficiency of one worker is made up by the special gift of another, contact of mind with mind quickens thought and increases capability, and one worker's counsel and influence makes another's work more complete. This requires those of careful thought to check exaggerated action, and also requires avoiding slowness and delay that loses precious time, while church members are encouraged and educated to work and share responsibilities, which lifts burdens from ministers and adds years to the life of the worker who cooperates with God. Different gifts are given to different persons so they feel their need of one another and join together as mutual helpers in carrying forward in the Lord's name the enterprises that show heavenly truth to the world, with no thread of selfishness and no tearing down of another's work to please self, but with reliance on the Lord, seeking wisdom from Him, and by faith taking hold of the unseen to prepare a people to work with God in showing His power in the world. God ordained His servants to be associated together so that the varied talents of many minds may be blended, so that when physicians and teachers thus united impart their knowledge, the youth under their training receive a symmetrical, well-balanced education for service.
The diversity of gifts and ways of serving meets the varied needs and people of the world, and no one servant's strength must match another's. By different gifts the truth is proclaimed so that varied minds are reached and slumbering worldlings are aroused, with all gifts to be controlled by the same Holy Spirit and used in unity, workers learning to blend together in harmonious action, all revealing kindness and love. These gifts may fit distinct gospel work, for some can serve more effectively as colporteurs, visiting families, talking and praying with them, than as preachers, and their gifts should be used in the work for which they are suited rather than redirected into preaching at the cost of neglected work. God's people should not force others into their own ideas, because distinct traits and abilities can fit them for work others cannot do, and each person should have room for God to work, develop abilities, and prepare for a special work.
No one person has every ability or enough wisdom to carry out the work alone; different minds and gifts are needed, and each gift has its proper place in preparing people for Christ's coming. Those with different gifts may not agree on every point of doctrine, yet the Spirit can unite them in the work of bringing people to Christ, with meekness, mutual forbearance, and charity helping preserve that unity and keep attention on the urgent work of saving souls. Diversity of gifts must be joined in unity unto holiness, with experiences never alike and differing in expression yet all given for the common good, each keeping liberty of expression yet blending capabilities with those chosen, allowing no one to work out his own invention in raising means, supporting schools, or sustaining the ministry, and allowing no selfishness and no launching out against another. When worked out in unity and love with the glory of God in view, this diversity makes a complete whole, aims every soul at reaching the perfection of the character of Jesus Christ, and gives pledged union in action, with prayer and equal interest, to stand in opposition and conflict, meet fanaticism and forced-in heresies, sustain Bible truth, and gain victory without confusion.
Continuance Through Time
The Christian age began with the outpouring of the Spirit and an abundant manifestation of varied gifts among believers, so that every member received a manifestation of the Spirit for the common profit. Every man in this promise means every man in the church, not every man in the world. Certain gifts of the Spirit were placed in the church for its edification and instruction to the end of time. They are needed especially as the church enters the perils of the last days.
The verse belongs to the Bible argument for the perpetuity of spiritual gifts. The same gifts of the Spirit given to the apostles are given to workers now for the grand, finishing work of this earth's history. God has given His people a great work to do in the world, and every professed son or daughter of God is to give evidence that the Holy Spirit is impressing the heart, for that decides the success of labors. The gifts are to be appreciated, with each person acting his part by understanding the need of communion with God, experiencing the sanctifying power of His grace on the human heart, being submissive to the will of God, and being willing to engage in the work appointed to His servants. Each laborer is given his own place and appointed work, and by remaining in that appointed work instead of stepping out to take other duties that interfere with it his gift profits the whole work.
Faith that works by love and purifies the soul is a living, working principle to be exercised in those gifts. Every believer is to let faith and intelligence arouse into sanctified action, advancing from light to greater light with the Holy Spirit shining upon the Word, holding truth with certainty and never going back to an uncertain faith, because the foundation of God stands sure and sentiments, theories, and doctrines, however true, are powerless to save without a living faith in God. The gifts of the Spirit are teaching to be given to believers to restore unity and power. In connection with the work of the third angel's message this includes the Spirit of prophecy communicating to God's people a knowledge of His will, giving light in warnings, reproofs, and encouragement. Making known that this light did not originate with human minds arrests the attention of many, convicts and converts them, and reaches many who would not otherwise be reached.
Spiritual gifts are given to benefit the church by encouraging those who are fainting and correcting and reproving those who are erring. When they are revived and active in the church they bring help and new life, but when they are neglected God's favor may be withdrawn. Their existence must not be denied because Satan has counterfeited them through fanaticism, false visions, deceptive spiritual displays, noisy displays, false tongues, and excitement. Visions are among the gifts and operations of the Spirit God has placed in the church to benefit its members, and opposing them can endanger others by leading them astray. Noisy displays, false tongues, and excitement are not proof that a gift comes from God, but the character and results of such claims show their source. Genuine spiritual growth is marked by solemn self-examination, humility, and learning from Christ, and God's people need humility, sound judgment, and unity with the church to recognize and use the Spirit's gifts rightly.
God in His infinite wisdom employs human agents with a variety of agencies and different gifts to cooperate with Him in the work of saving people. All are to cooperate harmoniously, each filling his own special God-given sphere of action. The gifts are given to work for the salvation of fellow men not by judging them but by showing what the Lord has done in the transformation of character. The work is to be done with faith, sympathy, forbearance, love, gentleness, and temperance in all things as a light shining in a dark place. God often uses the spotless example of a poor and illiterate devoted man as successfully to promote the designs of the gospel as the labors of the minister lauded for talents and eloquence, and His wisdom and power are revealed more in the humble, devoted worker who lives his religion than in the educated man who does not rely fully upon God's help.
Using Gifts Faithfully
Gifts are given to bless others, and using them to bless others makes them increase in power and perfection, while keeping them for self causes them to diminish and eventually be withdrawn. Every talent is to be used and faithfully developed and guarded, not weakened by self-indulgence or misuse, for every power contributes to usefulness just as the misuse of one part of the body affects the whole. Everything the Lord has given — time, money, influence — is under contribution to God to be employed in soul saving, and men and women are to be given room to work without indifference or opposition even when their work is in different lines. Those who refuse to place themselves in the ranks of service range themselves in opposition to Christ, while using and improving gifts and judgment increases ability to serve.
The Holy Spirit is given to qualify people for the responsibilities they are called to bear in God's work. Consecration and devotion to that work develop discipline, breadth of experience, and knowledge of God's will needed to serve effectively. Varied gifts are meant to work together so that abilities complement one another and shared knowledge strengthens those trained. Receiving the gifts requires faithfulness to grace given, continuing in His love, and abiding in Christ as the branch abides in the vine, bringing full joy and the joys of salvation made possible through the sacrifice of Christ in giving Himself and God in giving His only begotten Son to give wisdom.
Natural ability, learning, and eloquence cannot touch hearts or win sinners to Christ without the Spirit. Even the poorest and least educated disciple, when connected with Christ and possessing the Spirit's gifts, can influence hearts and serve as a channel of God's power. God often uses the spotless example of a poor and illiterate devoted worker who lives his religion as successfully to promote the gospel as the labors of one lauded for talents and eloquence, revealing His wisdom and power more in the humble worker than in the educated man who does not rely fully on His help. Gifts are to be used in God's service not to glorify possessors or elevate human beings but to uplift the Redeemer and represent the truth, requiring dependence on God rather than human ability or wisdom, with prayer and counsel together in unity.
Christ Himself appoints positions and offices and gives to every person talents, position, and capabilities as His gifts to be recognized, esteemed, improved, and used to honor God, not wasted by improper use. Each gift lays receivers under obligation to be meek and lowly in heart, patient under trial, willing to forgive injuries, and determined to preserve unity and harmony, given for the holiness and happiness of those united with Christ in preparing a people to stand in the day of the Lord. No one should be envious or suspicious toward a brother when he uses his gifts, nor hinder, demerit, or belittle the gift and work God has given another because he does not work in the same exact track. God assigns each worker a particular task suited to that person, and remaining in that appointed work instead of stepping out to take other unappointed duties is how the gift profits the whole work, since taking on what God has not appointed confuses the worker and interferes with spreading truth and preparing people for the coming crisis.
Cooperation Without Control
Simple organization and church order are appointed to bring unity and perfection, with the figure of many members composing one body picturing the relation believers are to sustain to one another in humble obedience. The chapter calls for continuous humbling of self, beginning with self-examination and the critical taking of self in hand. Each person is to deny self and bear his own cross of self-denial, self-humiliation, and self-sacrifice instead of laying that cross on another to carry. Those united in church capacity are to be united understandingly and intelligently, committing the teaching of 1 Corinthians 12 with 1 Corinthians 13 to memory and writing it in mind and heart.
Official position stands as leader, adviser, counselor, and helper in carrying burdens and offering thanksgiving, while the Lord Himself is over His heritage to lead His people. It confers no kingly authority to control and rule fellow laborers, to order and command the Lord's workers, or to assume powers God has not given. No man handling sacred responsibilities may arbitrarily forbid work God has bidden to be carried forward, saying to a fellow worker you shall not do this or you must do that, for the Spirit impresses each servant's heart and mind where to go and what to do. Spiritual grace is not given to one man to make him lord and chief over physicians and medical missionaries to control their efforts by his authority. Every gospel minister and medical worker called of God is to be respected in his place, with Christ working through all alike in perfect and complete unity between medical missionary work and the gospel ministry, without division and without carrying things in one's own way irrespective of other workers. No minister is to claim the right to do all the important work, and none is to be conscience for others or gain an experience for them.
Among members there is to be no crowding, no judging, and no measuring of one gift by another, for members do not all act the same part and none may say to another, I have no need of thee. Gifts differ in work yet God works through them all for service in one body, so no member should judge another's gift or count another unnecessary. Human frailty calls for care in judging, with self-examination rather than pulling others down or humbling them, leaving people to gain experience from God rather than from finite human judgment. No one is to submerge another's identity or work another's mind as a machine, even by sustaining all his ideas as if infallible, and merely echoing another's words, manners, and thoughts fails God-given accountability and is not raised in God's estimation. One man's methods may be good, yet his mind is not to mold and fashion the work according to his special ideas, for no one gift alone is sufficient and varied gifts working together under the Lord's direction are needed to build the work strong and symmetrical. Truth is not to be taught so as to form separate parties under different heads, for contention and party spirit come from narrow conceptions of unsanctified minds and gifts are given for the common good to keep believers together, never to separate them.
God teaches one believer and then another, giving insight and ability to different people for the benefit of the whole, so believers should share plans and thoughts, listen freely to one another, and receive kind counsel that may bring needed insight. No teacher, physician, or minister can ever be a complete whole alone, for God ordained men to be associated in His service so varied talents of many minds are blended. Contact of mind with mind quickens thought and increases capability, and the deficiency of one laborer is made up by the special gift of another. When physicians and teachers thus associated unite in imparting knowledge, youth under their training receive a symmetrical, well-balanced education for service, keeping the work from becoming one-sided. Varied gifts and different agencies are essential to build the work strong, proportional, and complete, with each worker doing his God-given work in his appropriate position and each supplying the deficiency of one who left alone would think himself a complete whole.
Each person is to act as a responsible agent rather than merely echo another's thoughts, for the Spirit's work uses the mind God has given and does not remove individual judgment or conscience. God works with each heart and mind in the formation of opinions of their own, and encouragement must be given to form and express them. No one's strength must match another's, and God's people should not force others into their own ideas, because distinct traits and abilities fit them for work others cannot do and each should have room for God to develop abilities and prepare for a special work. Workers are to use received talents in union with one another, laboring in harmony while differing widely, giving one another room to work instead of carrying the work in a stereotyped precise way with details executed only as approved by one or two or three. Different workers, including those training for service, should be given room to use gifts and learn from Christ the great Teacher rather than following a single rigid pattern set by a few.
No laborer is complete or can successfully do the whole work alone, for different gifts of the Spirit are given for the good of all and must join in harmonious effort. No one minister is sufficient alone, but each can only trade according to his entrusted gift, and no man's method can mold souls after his own ideas. Left to one man the work is deficient, so the Lord in providence sends various workmen, one strong on an essential point where another is weak, each revealing truth on points his brother did not regard as essential. It takes varied gifts of various laborers under control of the Holy Spirit to carry the work forward to fullness, feeding the flock with convenient food, and to think a church wholly efficient without varied gifts hinders its advancement and perfection. Several workers of varied gifts and the very best talent must blend in city and meeting efforts, with every department closely joined to every other and all advancing together in perfect harmony, supporting one another in different duties in love as Christ loved. Each person's contribution in his place is important and no one person's judgment should control another's, with one Spirit moving all toward unity, brotherly sympathy, and loving cooperation, including physicians taking part in teaching and helping others learn to work effectively.
Character for Service
The manifestation of the Spirit is Christ's representative and heavenly teacher and guide, to be acknowledged, prayed for and received, making real in heart and life what Christ made possible through His death. When believers come together for counsel, the verse is God's message to them to speak good words that help and strengthen brethren. It reveals the Lord's unceasing tenderness to His people and His desire for them to reveal the same tenderness to one another. This requires laying aside self-confidence and standing apart to criticize and condemn, uniting with one another in service, and jealously guarding one another's interests even though mistakes are made.
God Himself dispenses spiritual gifts as He pleases, giving one gift to one person and another gift to another, ordering some to serve in one line of work and others in other lines, including calling some to teach others to fit them for service, yet all working under the same self-same Spirit and all given for the good and profit of the whole body and church. No one person has every qualification needed for God's work, so members depend on one another and work together as one body, each developing the gifts given without despising or envying the gifts and work of others. Recognizing this plan is a safeguard against rivalry, pride, envy, contempt and carnal emulation, and it strengthens unity and mutual love. That unity is preserved by meekness, mutual forbearance, charity, lowliness, patience under trial, forgiveness, kindness, honoring one another with brotherly love while abhorring evil, keeping attention on the urgent work of bringing people to Christ and saving souls even when those with different gifts do not agree on every point of doctrine.
Diversity of gifts must be joined in unity unto holiness, with experiences never alike and differing in expression, each person keeping liberty of expression yet blending capabilities with those chosen. There is to be no one working out his own invention in raising means, supporting schools, or sustaining the ministry, and no selfishness and no launching out against another. A union of all the gifts is essential so the work is not one-sided but a complete whole, with no one becoming detached and independent, with Jesus as center and source of all life and power pervading the whole. That perfect unity in diversity comes only by loving one another as Christ loved, which is an advance beyond loving as self, aiming every soul at reaching the perfection of the character of Jesus Christ. When worked out in unity and love with the glory of God in view, this pledged union in action, with prayer and equal interest, stands in opposition and conflict, meets fanaticism and forced-in heresies, sustains Bible truth, and gains victory without confusion, while every member is given a share to promote the happiness and welfare of all others, trained in humble dependence on the all-sufficient God to become a consecrated channel through which His love flows to others, finding personal happiness in making others happy.
In infinite wisdom God employs human agencies with a variety of agencies and different gifts to cooperate with Him and labor together with Christ in the work of saving people and perfecting Christian character, each filling his own special God-given sphere of action and cooperating harmoniously. The work is to be done not by judging others but by showing what the Lord has done in transformation of character, by faith, sympathy, forbearance, love, gentleness and temperance in all things as a light shining in a dark place. His wisdom and power are revealed more in the humble, devoted worker who lives his religion, and He often uses the spotless example of a poor and illiterate person as successfully to promote the designs of the gospel as the labors of one lauded for talents and eloquence. Receiving the gifts requires faithfulness to the grace given, continuing in His love, and abiding in Christ as the branch abides in the vine, bringing full joy and the joys of salvation made possible through the sacrifice of Christ in giving Himself and God in giving His only begotten Son to give wisdom. The gifts God places in the church are to be recognized, while all things are tested and only what is good is retained, and sound understanding of these distinctive matters belongs to candidates for ministry.
The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every believer in the church, not to the world at large, as a measure of help to draw the heart to Christ and mold character without forcing the will. It is given to each one to profit all withal, for the common good and benefit of others rather than for self, strife or personal gain. The same Spirit and the same God divides diversities of gifts, operations and kinds of work to each one as He wills, appointing to every member his own work, place and post of duty. These varied gifts, from wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues and interpretation to speech, intellect, taste, skill and refinement, make believers many members yet one body in Christ with Jesus as head, center and source of life. Gifts given to bless others increase by faithful use and diminish and are at last withdrawn if kept for self, so no one is excused from serving and even the smallest gift is to be valued, improved and traded upon in its own sphere.
Meaning of the Words
"Every man" means every believer in the church, not every person in the world. The Christian age began with the outpouring of the Spirit and so abundant a manifestation of varied gifts that every member received a manifestation of the Spirit for the common profit.
A measure of the Spirit is given to every person to profit withal as a helper to draw mind and heart to Christ. Through the ministry of angels the Holy Spirit works upon mind and heart to draw each person to Christ, who paid the ransom to rescue the sinner from slavery to sin and Satan. He does not interfere with human freedom nor force obedience, but is given as helper so the human agent may cooperate with the Divine. Christ, who gives the Holy Spirit as Mediator, is ready to impart all heavenly influences, knowing every temptation and capability, weighing each person's strength, seeing present and future, setting obligations before the mind, and urging that common earthly things not absorb the mind so eternal things are lost. The Lord has fullness of grace for everyone who will receive the heavenly gift, bringing God-entrusted capabilities into Christ's service and molding and fashioning the human agent according to the divine pattern as he earnestly desires transformation. The atonement made on Calvary is thus brought into contact with the soul to transform character and change nature until it is said in heaven that men are laborers together with God, wearing Christ's yoke and bearing His burden. Through sanctification of the Spirit and the imputed righteousness of Christ the paralyzed moral agency is quickened and reinvigorated with spiritual life, placed on vantage ground to become a light directing souls in right paths and drawing souls to Jesus, a channel through whom the Holy Spirit can work without pleading in vain, not as one who having eyes sees not, having ears hears not, and having heart will not understand.
The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every person to profit all withal, for the common good and benefit of others, not for self, strife, or personal gain. The same Spirit gives diversities of gifts and the same God works diversities of operations and kinds of work, dividing to each one as He wills. They equip believers for distinct kinds of service that are to work together in harmony as members of one body whose head is Jesus Christ, so as many members with different offices are one body, many believers with different gifts are one body in Christ. Because members do not all act the same part, no member is self-sufficient and none may say to another, I have no need of thee. Among the members there is to be no crowding, no judging, and no measuring of one gift by another, for many gifts are called for yet all are members of one body, and God does not give everyone the same work. This requires purposeful, not haphazard, work in ministry and medical missionary lines, each serving in his own gift with sincere love, abhorring evil, cleaving to good, kindly affectioned with brotherly love, in honor preferring one another, and following this plan brings less friction in the work. Practicing this is of vital importance now above all other times in earth's history, for leaving it out brings discord and strife, dishonors God, withholds the power He desires to impart, and keeps His people from doing the work that would glorify His name before the world and before the heavenly universe.
The manifestations include the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, divers kinds of tongues and interpretation of tongues. They also include speech, intellectual ability, good taste, skill, refinement and true elevation, which become a great power for good in God's work when first placed under His jurisdiction with the Lord's presence as the controlling power. Coveting earnestly the best gifts does not mean seeking to be first, but striving earnestly for power to follow Christ's example and be heralds of His gospel, with heart blended with the heart of Christ and desires and practices conformed to the will of Christ. This is true religion, kept by walking straight forward in blessed, holy light even when temptations, suspicion, and evil surmising make it hard to preserve the spirit of the higher life.
The verse fulfills Christ's promise to send the Holy Spirit as Comforter and guide to lead into all truth by manifestations of the Spirit given to every man for profit. These are certain gifts of the Spirit placed in the church for its edification and instruction to the end of time, needed especially as the church enters the perils of the last days. The Spirit of truth is given to every man to profit withal, Christ is the Light that lights every man, the light shines now, and the wisdom of God guides every true, humble, devoted worker. Those who behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and look to Christ as Center and Lifegiver are to arise and shine because the glory of God is risen upon them.
Giver and Distribution
The same Spirit and the same God give diversities of gifts, operations and kinds of work, dividing to each one as He wills and dispensing one gift to one person and another gift to another. It is His order that some shall serve in one line of work and others in other lines, including teaching others to fit them for service, yet all work under the self-same Spirit and all is given for the good of the whole body. Recognizing this plan guards against rivalry, pride, envy, contempt and carnal emulation of one another, and strengthens unity and mutual love.
He appoints each worker his own lot, place and post of duty, directing each servant by impressing heart and mind where to go and what to do, so all do not have the same form of work to do. As Bezalel and Aholiab received wisdom, understanding, knowledge and skill to build the tabernacle, so no one person receives all knowledge and wisdom, but different gifts and abilities are given for the work to be done and for the benefit of the work and those it serves. Taking on responsibilities not appointed can confuse the worker and interfere with the work that would spread truth and prepare people for the coming crisis, and remaining in appointed work instead of stepping out to take other interfering duties is how the gift profits the whole work. Because direction comes from the Lord by His Holy Spirit, spiritual grace is not given to one man to make him lord and chief over all physicians and other medical missionaries to control their efforts by his authority, and no man handling sacred responsibilities should arbitrarily say to a fellow worker what he shall or shall not do or forbid any work God has bidden to be carried forward. Every gospel minister and medical worker called by God is to be respected in his place, with Christ working through all ministering brethren alike in perfect and complete unity between medical missionary workers and the gospel ministry, with no division and no carrying things in one's own way irrespective of the Lord's other workers, each finding out what the Master would have him to do and then doing that work in connection with other laborers, whether sacred or secular, in business lines, in the ministry of the Word, or in various trades, serving with whole heart, mind, soul and strength. God would have His work carried forward soundly and healthfully under His supervision, with each man having his own post of duty in the great whole and recognizing God's ownership of himself and his powers, so that his whole life and every act becomes a consecrated act.
The setting of the gifts in the church as God pleases does not mean every individual exercises every gift, for the manifestations of the Spirit are divided among the members as He pleases. If a gift is bestowed upon even one member, that gift is in the church and the church has it. This explains how the last generation of Christians can have the testimony of Jesus, or the gift of prophecy, without every believer being a prophet.
No one person has every ability or enough wisdom and qualification to carry out the work alone, but different minds and gifts are needed, and each gift has its proper place in preparing people for Christ's coming. The gifts differ in kind and measure, and every gift, even the smallest, is to be valued and used according to the ability given, with diligent use able to enlarge capability and God able to use a small gift when exercised in faith. Belittling another person's work or talents dishonors God, for God determines the worth of the gifts and the power to use them, so each person should develop what is given without despising or envying the gifts and work of others, without pride or self-credit, and without complaint of smallness. The varied gifts and differing traits of members are needed for God's work and are to be used in harmony, helping one another, with members depending on one another and working together as one body, and the gifts placed in the church are to be recognized while all things are tested and only what is good is retained. God has work even for people with limited religious or intellectual training when they serve humbly and trust in Him.
To every individual member is given his own personal work and gift to profit the cause as moral and spiritual capital entrusted to him, and not one is excused, for no one can be an idler in the vineyard of the Lord but all are to be diligent laborers together with God. Every son and daughter has a work appointed with powers from God to do it, and growth in grace is proved by efficiency in service through earnest work and self-denial, with no slothful servants and no idle members, each learning by exercising abilities how to work most efficiently, how to give a testimony, how to pray, and how to be a living witness. Every man and woman has his or her own peculiar sphere and vocation in spiritual things, and even little work may glorify God, so as the rill does not refuse its narrow channel because it is not a river, the grass does not refuse to grow because it is not a stately tree, and the star does not refuse to shine because it is not the sun, everything is to do its appointed work without murmuring at its position. The interest required is proportionate to the amount of entrusted capital, according to the measure of the gift, and no one is accountable for talents never had. Everyone is to trade on what is entrusted, working where he can and doing the best possible service, appreciating what is given and never treating it with indifference. Every living soul has talents to be improved to the very best account for the profit of others, with each having an individual, personal work to perfect Christian character and to act a part in God's firm in the world, bringing sunshine, pleasantness, agreeableness, joy and happiness into the lives of others by words and speech, with no cross, hasty or passionate speeches, because no one lives to himself, and faithfulness in this prepares for mansions in the city of God. Students should be prepared to serve faithfully in the kind of work for which they are best suited, for all have not the same gift and there is a variety of gifts, all needed to do the work appointed.
Unity of the Body
As many members with different offices form one body, so many believers with different gifts form one body in Christ, with Jesus as head and center and source of all life and power, each filling a proper place according to ability as part of one great whole joined to God in which no one can become detached and independent. The figure of the members composing the body represents the church and the relation its members should sustain to one another, and 1 Corinthians 12 with 1 Corinthians 13 is to be committed to memory and written in mind and heart so that those brought together in church capacity will be united understandingly and intelligently in humble obedience. Every member is given a share to promote the happiness and welfare of all others, trained in humble dependence on the all-sufficient God to become a consecrated channel through which His love flows to others, finding personal happiness in making others happy and advancing toward perfection of Christian character by coming nearest to the character of Jesus Christ.
No member is self-sufficient and none may say to another, I have no need of thee, for no one with his gift alone is capable of carrying through a series of meetings and giving perfection to the work. Varied gifts and different kinds of agencies are essential under divine direction to build the work up strong, proportional, and complete, and to keep one mind from molding and fashioning the work after its special ideas, with harmonious cooperation in which each does his God-given work in his appropriate position and each supplies the deficiency of a workman who, left alone, would think himself a complete whole. The deficiency of one worker is made up by the special gift of another, contact of mind with mind quickens thought and increases capability, and one worker's counsel and influence makes another's work more complete. This requires those of careful thought to check exaggerated action, and also requires avoiding slowness and delay that loses precious time, while church members are encouraged and educated to work and share responsibilities, which lifts burdens from ministers and adds years to the life of the worker who cooperates with God. Different gifts are given to different persons so they feel their need of one another and join together as mutual helpers in carrying forward in the Lord's name the enterprises that show heavenly truth to the world, with no thread of selfishness and no tearing down of another's work to please self, but with reliance on the Lord, seeking wisdom from Him, and by faith taking hold of the unseen to prepare a people to work with God in showing His power in the world. God ordained His servants to be associated together so that the varied talents of many minds may be blended, so that when physicians and teachers thus united impart their knowledge, the youth under their training receive a symmetrical, well-balanced education for service.
The diversity of gifts and ways of serving meets the varied needs and people of the world, and no one servant's strength must match another's. By different gifts the truth is proclaimed so that varied minds are reached and slumbering worldlings are aroused, with all gifts to be controlled by the same Holy Spirit and used in unity, workers learning to blend together in harmonious action, all revealing kindness and love. These gifts may fit distinct gospel work, for some can serve more effectively as colporteurs, visiting families, talking and praying with them, than as preachers, and their gifts should be used in the work for which they are suited rather than redirected into preaching at the cost of neglected work. God's people should not force others into their own ideas, because distinct traits and abilities can fit them for work others cannot do, and each person should have room for God to work, develop abilities, and prepare for a special work.
No one person has every ability or enough wisdom to carry out the work alone; different minds and gifts are needed, and each gift has its proper place in preparing people for Christ's coming. Those with different gifts may not agree on every point of doctrine, yet the Spirit can unite them in the work of bringing people to Christ, with meekness, mutual forbearance, and charity helping preserve that unity and keep attention on the urgent work of saving souls. Diversity of gifts must be joined in unity unto holiness, with experiences never alike and differing in expression yet all given for the common good, each keeping liberty of expression yet blending capabilities with those chosen, allowing no one to work out his own invention in raising means, supporting schools, or sustaining the ministry, and allowing no selfishness and no launching out against another. When worked out in unity and love with the glory of God in view, this diversity makes a complete whole, aims every soul at reaching the perfection of the character of Jesus Christ, and gives pledged union in action, with prayer and equal interest, to stand in opposition and conflict, meet fanaticism and forced-in heresies, sustain Bible truth, and gain victory without confusion.
Continuance Through Time
The Christian age began with the outpouring of the Spirit and an abundant manifestation of varied gifts among believers, so that every member received a manifestation of the Spirit for the common profit. Every man in this promise means every man in the church, not every man in the world. Certain gifts of the Spirit were placed in the church for its edification and instruction to the end of time. They are needed especially as the church enters the perils of the last days.
The verse belongs to the Bible argument for the perpetuity of spiritual gifts. The same gifts of the Spirit given to the apostles are given to workers now for the grand, finishing work of this earth's history. God has given His people a great work to do in the world, and every professed son or daughter of God is to give evidence that the Holy Spirit is impressing the heart, for that decides the success of labors. The gifts are to be appreciated, with each person acting his part by understanding the need of communion with God, experiencing the sanctifying power of His grace on the human heart, being submissive to the will of God, and being willing to engage in the work appointed to His servants. Each laborer is given his own place and appointed work, and by remaining in that appointed work instead of stepping out to take other duties that interfere with it his gift profits the whole work.
Faith that works by love and purifies the soul is a living, working principle to be exercised in those gifts. Every believer is to let faith and intelligence arouse into sanctified action, advancing from light to greater light with the Holy Spirit shining upon the Word, holding truth with certainty and never going back to an uncertain faith, because the foundation of God stands sure and sentiments, theories, and doctrines, however true, are powerless to save without a living faith in God. The gifts of the Spirit are teaching to be given to believers to restore unity and power. In connection with the work of the third angel's message this includes the Spirit of prophecy communicating to God's people a knowledge of His will, giving light in warnings, reproofs, and encouragement. Making known that this light did not originate with human minds arrests the attention of many, convicts and converts them, and reaches many who would not otherwise be reached.
Spiritual gifts are given to benefit the church by encouraging those who are fainting and correcting and reproving those who are erring. When they are revived and active in the church they bring help and new life, but when they are neglected God's favor may be withdrawn. Their existence must not be denied because Satan has counterfeited them through fanaticism, false visions, deceptive spiritual displays, noisy displays, false tongues, and excitement. Visions are among the gifts and operations of the Spirit God has placed in the church to benefit its members, and opposing them can endanger others by leading them astray. Noisy displays, false tongues, and excitement are not proof that a gift comes from God, but the character and results of such claims show their source. Genuine spiritual growth is marked by solemn self-examination, humility, and learning from Christ, and God's people need humility, sound judgment, and unity with the church to recognize and use the Spirit's gifts rightly.
God in His infinite wisdom employs human agents with a variety of agencies and different gifts to cooperate with Him in the work of saving people. All are to cooperate harmoniously, each filling his own special God-given sphere of action. The gifts are given to work for the salvation of fellow men not by judging them but by showing what the Lord has done in the transformation of character. The work is to be done with faith, sympathy, forbearance, love, gentleness, and temperance in all things as a light shining in a dark place. God often uses the spotless example of a poor and illiterate devoted man as successfully to promote the designs of the gospel as the labors of the minister lauded for talents and eloquence, and His wisdom and power are revealed more in the humble, devoted worker who lives his religion than in the educated man who does not rely fully upon God's help.
Using Gifts Faithfully
Gifts are given to bless others, and using them to bless others makes them increase in power and perfection, while keeping them for self causes them to diminish and eventually be withdrawn. Every talent is to be used and faithfully developed and guarded, not weakened by self-indulgence or misuse, for every power contributes to usefulness just as the misuse of one part of the body affects the whole. Everything the Lord has given — time, money, influence — is under contribution to God to be employed in soul saving, and men and women are to be given room to work without indifference or opposition even when their work is in different lines. Those who refuse to place themselves in the ranks of service range themselves in opposition to Christ, while using and improving gifts and judgment increases ability to serve.
The Holy Spirit is given to qualify people for the responsibilities they are called to bear in God's work. Consecration and devotion to that work develop discipline, breadth of experience, and knowledge of God's will needed to serve effectively. Varied gifts are meant to work together so that abilities complement one another and shared knowledge strengthens those trained. Receiving the gifts requires faithfulness to grace given, continuing in His love, and abiding in Christ as the branch abides in the vine, bringing full joy and the joys of salvation made possible through the sacrifice of Christ in giving Himself and God in giving His only begotten Son to give wisdom.
Natural ability, learning, and eloquence cannot touch hearts or win sinners to Christ without the Spirit. Even the poorest and least educated disciple, when connected with Christ and possessing the Spirit's gifts, can influence hearts and serve as a channel of God's power. God often uses the spotless example of a poor and illiterate devoted worker who lives his religion as successfully to promote the gospel as the labors of one lauded for talents and eloquence, revealing His wisdom and power more in the humble worker than in the educated man who does not rely fully on His help. Gifts are to be used in God's service not to glorify possessors or elevate human beings but to uplift the Redeemer and represent the truth, requiring dependence on God rather than human ability or wisdom, with prayer and counsel together in unity.
Christ Himself appoints positions and offices and gives to every person talents, position, and capabilities as His gifts to be recognized, esteemed, improved, and used to honor God, not wasted by improper use. Each gift lays receivers under obligation to be meek and lowly in heart, patient under trial, willing to forgive injuries, and determined to preserve unity and harmony, given for the holiness and happiness of those united with Christ in preparing a people to stand in the day of the Lord. No one should be envious or suspicious toward a brother when he uses his gifts, nor hinder, demerit, or belittle the gift and work God has given another because he does not work in the same exact track. God assigns each worker a particular task suited to that person, and remaining in that appointed work instead of stepping out to take other unappointed duties is how the gift profits the whole work, since taking on what God has not appointed confuses the worker and interferes with spreading truth and preparing people for the coming crisis.
Cooperation Without Control
Simple organization and church order are appointed to bring unity and perfection, with the figure of many members composing one body picturing the relation believers are to sustain to one another in humble obedience. The chapter calls for continuous humbling of self, beginning with self-examination and the critical taking of self in hand. Each person is to deny self and bear his own cross of self-denial, self-humiliation, and self-sacrifice instead of laying that cross on another to carry. Those united in church capacity are to be united understandingly and intelligently, committing the teaching of 1 Corinthians 12 with 1 Corinthians 13 to memory and writing it in mind and heart.
Official position stands as leader, adviser, counselor, and helper in carrying burdens and offering thanksgiving, while the Lord Himself is over His heritage to lead His people. It confers no kingly authority to control and rule fellow laborers, to order and command the Lord's workers, or to assume powers God has not given. No man handling sacred responsibilities may arbitrarily forbid work God has bidden to be carried forward, saying to a fellow worker you shall not do this or you must do that, for the Spirit impresses each servant's heart and mind where to go and what to do. Spiritual grace is not given to one man to make him lord and chief over physicians and medical missionaries to control their efforts by his authority. Every gospel minister and medical worker called of God is to be respected in his place, with Christ working through all alike in perfect and complete unity between medical missionary work and the gospel ministry, without division and without carrying things in one's own way irrespective of other workers. No minister is to claim the right to do all the important work, and none is to be conscience for others or gain an experience for them.
Among members there is to be no crowding, no judging, and no measuring of one gift by another, for members do not all act the same part and none may say to another, I have no need of thee. Gifts differ in work yet God works through them all for service in one body, so no member should judge another's gift or count another unnecessary. Human frailty calls for care in judging, with self-examination rather than pulling others down or humbling them, leaving people to gain experience from God rather than from finite human judgment. No one is to submerge another's identity or work another's mind as a machine, even by sustaining all his ideas as if infallible, and merely echoing another's words, manners, and thoughts fails God-given accountability and is not raised in God's estimation. One man's methods may be good, yet his mind is not to mold and fashion the work according to his special ideas, for no one gift alone is sufficient and varied gifts working together under the Lord's direction are needed to build the work strong and symmetrical. Truth is not to be taught so as to form separate parties under different heads, for contention and party spirit come from narrow conceptions of unsanctified minds and gifts are given for the common good to keep believers together, never to separate them.
God teaches one believer and then another, giving insight and ability to different people for the benefit of the whole, so believers should share plans and thoughts, listen freely to one another, and receive kind counsel that may bring needed insight. No teacher, physician, or minister can ever be a complete whole alone, for God ordained men to be associated in His service so varied talents of many minds are blended. Contact of mind with mind quickens thought and increases capability, and the deficiency of one laborer is made up by the special gift of another. When physicians and teachers thus associated unite in imparting knowledge, youth under their training receive a symmetrical, well-balanced education for service, keeping the work from becoming one-sided. Varied gifts and different agencies are essential to build the work strong, proportional, and complete, with each worker doing his God-given work in his appropriate position and each supplying the deficiency of one who left alone would think himself a complete whole.
Each person is to act as a responsible agent rather than merely echo another's thoughts, for the Spirit's work uses the mind God has given and does not remove individual judgment or conscience. God works with each heart and mind in the formation of opinions of their own, and encouragement must be given to form and express them. No one's strength must match another's, and God's people should not force others into their own ideas, because distinct traits and abilities fit them for work others cannot do and each should have room for God to develop abilities and prepare for a special work. Workers are to use received talents in union with one another, laboring in harmony while differing widely, giving one another room to work instead of carrying the work in a stereotyped precise way with details executed only as approved by one or two or three. Different workers, including those training for service, should be given room to use gifts and learn from Christ the great Teacher rather than following a single rigid pattern set by a few.
No laborer is complete or can successfully do the whole work alone, for different gifts of the Spirit are given for the good of all and must join in harmonious effort. No one minister is sufficient alone, but each can only trade according to his entrusted gift, and no man's method can mold souls after his own ideas. Left to one man the work is deficient, so the Lord in providence sends various workmen, one strong on an essential point where another is weak, each revealing truth on points his brother did not regard as essential. It takes varied gifts of various laborers under control of the Holy Spirit to carry the work forward to fullness, feeding the flock with convenient food, and to think a church wholly efficient without varied gifts hinders its advancement and perfection. Several workers of varied gifts and the very best talent must blend in city and meeting efforts, with every department closely joined to every other and all advancing together in perfect harmony, supporting one another in different duties in love as Christ loved. Each person's contribution in his place is important and no one person's judgment should control another's, with one Spirit moving all toward unity, brotherly sympathy, and loving cooperation, including physicians taking part in teaching and helping others learn to work effectively.
Character for Service
The manifestation of the Spirit is Christ's representative and heavenly teacher and guide, to be acknowledged, prayed for and received, making real in heart and life what Christ made possible through His death. When believers come together for counsel, the verse is God's message to them to speak good words that help and strengthen brethren. It reveals the Lord's unceasing tenderness to His people and His desire for them to reveal the same tenderness to one another. This requires laying aside self-confidence and standing apart to criticize and condemn, uniting with one another in service, and jealously guarding one another's interests even though mistakes are made.
God Himself dispenses spiritual gifts as He pleases, giving one gift to one person and another gift to another, ordering some to serve in one line of work and others in other lines, including calling some to teach others to fit them for service, yet all working under the same self-same Spirit and all given for the good and profit of the whole body and church. No one person has every qualification needed for God's work, so members depend on one another and work together as one body, each developing the gifts given without despising or envying the gifts and work of others. Recognizing this plan is a safeguard against rivalry, pride, envy, contempt and carnal emulation, and it strengthens unity and mutual love. That unity is preserved by meekness, mutual forbearance, charity, lowliness, patience under trial, forgiveness, kindness, honoring one another with brotherly love while abhorring evil, keeping attention on the urgent work of bringing people to Christ and saving souls even when those with different gifts do not agree on every point of doctrine.
Diversity of gifts must be joined in unity unto holiness, with experiences never alike and differing in expression, each person keeping liberty of expression yet blending capabilities with those chosen. There is to be no one working out his own invention in raising means, supporting schools, or sustaining the ministry, and no selfishness and no launching out against another. A union of all the gifts is essential so the work is not one-sided but a complete whole, with no one becoming detached and independent, with Jesus as center and source of all life and power pervading the whole. That perfect unity in diversity comes only by loving one another as Christ loved, which is an advance beyond loving as self, aiming every soul at reaching the perfection of the character of Jesus Christ. When worked out in unity and love with the glory of God in view, this pledged union in action, with prayer and equal interest, stands in opposition and conflict, meets fanaticism and forced-in heresies, sustains Bible truth, and gains victory without confusion, while every member is given a share to promote the happiness and welfare of all others, trained in humble dependence on the all-sufficient God to become a consecrated channel through which His love flows to others, finding personal happiness in making others happy.
In infinite wisdom God employs human agencies with a variety of agencies and different gifts to cooperate with Him and labor together with Christ in the work of saving people and perfecting Christian character, each filling his own special God-given sphere of action and cooperating harmoniously. The work is to be done not by judging others but by showing what the Lord has done in transformation of character, by faith, sympathy, forbearance, love, gentleness and temperance in all things as a light shining in a dark place. His wisdom and power are revealed more in the humble, devoted worker who lives his religion, and He often uses the spotless example of a poor and illiterate person as successfully to promote the designs of the gospel as the labors of one lauded for talents and eloquence. Receiving the gifts requires faithfulness to the grace given, continuing in His love, and abiding in Christ as the branch abides in the vine, bringing full joy and the joys of salvation made possible through the sacrifice of Christ in giving Himself and God in giving His only begotten Son to give wisdom. The gifts God places in the church are to be recognized, while all things are tested and only what is good is retained, and sound understanding of these distinctive matters belongs to candidates for ministry.