It took me about 15 minutes to read this passage. In Chapter 12 Paul talks about the different parts of our physical bodies and points out the similarity to the church as a body. In verses 14 and 15 he points out the strength in diversity. (Isn’t it amazing how slow it takes the world to catch up with what God has taught for centuries, but also how quickly they can pervert it into something so distant from the original meaning?) Human nature has a tendency to value what we don’t possess with greater value than what we do possess. Paul points out that the gifts God has bestowed upon any one Christian is EXACTLY what that Christian needs and will best use. We will find the greatest fulfillment in this life when we exercise the God given gift under our stewardship than if we strive to do something that we might value more. But we not only have to use the right gift (the one God has given us) but in chapter 13 Paul explains that we need to exercise that gift with the right motivation; love. In the first part of chapter 14 Paul offers an example of how not to use a God given gift. These are all important instructions that we need to keep in mind as we live out our life in Christ.
Stuart
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