1 Corinthians 14:13-19

1 Corinthians 14:13-19

Therefore let the one who speaks by a tongue pray in order that he should translate.  For if I should pray by a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.  Therefore what is it?  I will pray by the spirit, but I will pray also by the mind.  I will sing by the spirit but I will also sing by the mind.  Because if I should pray by the spirit, how will the one in that place who takes part without having acquired anything special say “Amen” upon your thanksgiving?  Because he has not known what you say!  For you give thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up.  I give thanks to God; I speak in tongues more than all of you.  But in the church I desire to speak five words by my mind in order that I should systematically teach others rather than a myriad of words in tongues.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought

Paul lets this talk about speaking in tongues come to a further conclusion in these verses.  Suppose there is a person in the midst of the congregation who hasn’t acquired the gift of speaking in tongues.  Let’s face it.  Most churches have this condition true in them.  If someone who does speak in tongues uses that gift in the gathered congregation, then how will the person who doesn’t have the gift be able to say “Amen?”  Remember that the word amen means “let what has said be true.”  The point Paul is making is this: when we are gathered together we should be about coming together in mutual uplifting of our spirit to God.  We should desire the support of the people around us.  Why would we even want to bring something likes tongues which has no chance of being understood – and therefore no chance of being supported – into the midst of the congregation?  Unless there is interpretation, of course.

Do you think Paul is right by making an argument about the needs of the community over the needs of the individual?  Do you think the church should be about the mutual uplifting of our spirit to God more than the individual need to assert one’s gift?

Second Thought:

I love the way that Paul ends this section.  The focus of our church should not be in the quantity or the style of our words.  A myriad of words spoken in tongues is of far less benefit to the gathered assembly than five words spoken plainly for teaching!  Plain teaching builds up all who are willing to listen.  Words spoken in tongues cannot build up people even if they are willing to listen.  That’s a huge point to understand. 

Again, it is not that tongues are bad.  It is that tongues have their place in the church.  Prophecy, teaching, revelation, and wisdom are all universally applicable gifts.  Tongues are to be used in the precise moment where they are useful.

What does it say to you that Paul would rather speak 5 words of plain teaching than a myriad of words in tongues?  Is this true for you as well?  Do you desire to be able to speak plain words of teaching or do you desire the more miraculous demonstrations of the Holy Spirit?

Third Thought:

As I said yesterday, one of the overarching themes that we can assert as we read this passage on tongues is that Paul is trying to teach us to value that which actually builds up the church.  It is so easy to get caught up in something like tongues – which is a flamboyant gift.  It is so easy to focus on the unknown and unusual.  But as Paul says, even when a person prays in tongues their mind is unfruitful!  This is because when a person is truly praying in tongues in a spiritual sense they don’t actually themselves known what it is that they are saying!  In the right time and the right circumstance this is okay and useful.  But our focus should not be on the unusual or the occasional.  Our focus when we are together should be on the universally beneficial to all.

How has your understanding of tongues deepened over the last few days?  Are you accepting of tongues?  Why or why not?  Do you think you are too easily impressed by speaking in tongues?  Why or why not?

Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Corinthians 14:20-25