The Spirit | Spiritus

"So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church" - 1 Cor 14:12

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In the first half of chapter 14 of the First Letter to Corinthians, Paul affirms the Corinthians’ desire for spiritual gifts. Yet he reshapes their understanding of what those gifts are for. Spiritual gifts are never given simply for personal enrichment or private satisfaction; they are entrusted to believers for the sake of others. 

The first words of this chapter are "Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts" (1 Cor 14:1). Love comes first. Before speaking about gifts, abilities, or spiritual experiences, Paul names love as the path that must guide them all.  By calls for "pursuing love" and “striving to excel in building up the church”, Paul sets the standard by which all spiritual eagerness must be judged.

These verses challenge the tendency to view spiritual growth as something we accumulate for ourselves, solely for our own sake or satisfaction. Gifts such as speaking, teaching, discernment, or leadership are not spiritual possessions to be just cumulated or enjoyed by ourselves. Rather, they are responsibilities—means by which God’s grace reaches the wider community. With them, we are to serve and strenghten others.

Paul thus calls to a spirituality shaped by love and service. What is important is not how gifted we appear, but how much our gifts help others grow in faith, find encouragement, and experience God’s presence. 

In this way, this passage invites us to reflect on our own spiritual desires. Are we pursuing growth primarily for ourselves, or are we seeking to become more capable of loving others? Paul reminds us that authentic faith and love are not inward- but outward-facing. 

We are to seek growth not just for ourselves, but so that our lives may become instruments through which God strengthens others. To pursue love is to seek gifts that help others flourish and to allow God’s grace to flow through us. 

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 14:1-19 by Agata Wierzbowska

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