March 12, 2014
DO THE WORDS MY TONGUE SPEAKS MATTER?
1 Corinthians 14:1-19
Larissa Vogelaar
Central Truth
The words I speak matter most to the people who hear them, so it's important to use my words in a way to build up the body of Christ through the spiritual gifts given to me.
Key Verse | 1 Corinthians 14:19
Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue. (1 Corinthians 14:19)
1 Corinthians 14:1-19
Prophecy and Tongues
1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
6 Now, brothers, 1 14:6 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 20, 26, 39 if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. 16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider 2 14:16 Or of him that is without gifts say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Dive Deeper | 1 Corinthians 14:1-19
How did you like my bio?
My guess is one of three things just happened:
1. You brushed over my bio and have no idea what I said;
2. You know Dutch and therefore completely understand what I shared; or
3. You decided to take that extra step of using an online translation to get a rough idea of what it said.
While I was able to read my bio because I speak Dutch, it probably wasn't very helpful to anyone who doesn't know the language. In the same way, Paul tells the church at Corinth that it's most important to speak words that others can understand and that will build up the church.
Having grown up in a Christian home, I quickly learned that the subject of tongues is a hot topic in the church. Some theologians believe speaking in tongues was a spiritual gift meant only for that particular time in history. Others believe it's still a spiritual gift today. But wherever you fall on this debate, Paul makes some defining statements in this passage about speaking in tongues and its comparison to prophecy.
1. "For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God . . . ." (verse 2)
2. "But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them." (verse 3, NLT)
3. "One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself . . . ." (verse 4, NASB)
4. "[B]ut one who prophesies edifies the church." (verse 4, NASB)
At the end of this passage, Paul shares in verse 19 that it is more important to him to be able to speak five words of instruction than 10,000 words in a tongue.
Theological debate aside, Paul reminds us of the bigger picture, to build up the church and other believers through our spiritual gifts. Whether our spiritual gift is prophecy, leadership, prayer, administration, evangelism, or service, we are challenged to use these gifts not just to build ourselves up, but most importantly to make sure that what we are doing is of value and understood by those we serve.
Discussion Questions
1. How am I building up and encouraging the body of Christ through the spiritual gifts God has given me?
2. Do I even know what my spiritual gifts are? www.spiritualgiftstest.com is one of many resources that can give direction on potential spiritual gifts.
3. How am I being aware of those I'm interacting with and making sure I'm communicating and serving in a way they can understand?
For those of us who might struggle with Google translate, here is what Larissa's bio says in English:
How's it going? My name is Larissa, and I was born in the Netherlands. As a child, I grew up in Holland and Austria, and because of my parents' work as missionaries, I have spent many summers traveling through Eastern Europe and learned key words taught in different languages, such as "thank you," "please," and "where is it toilet?" But once I got in a new country, I sometimes forgot those words. I am grateful that I now only have to learn to speak Texan, but I still have not used the words y'all and fixin'.