Seek To Edify

“And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not [love], I am nothing” (I Cor. 13:2). A lot of folks today need to take a long, hard and honest look at this verse of scripture, and figure out where they’re really at. Show me the love, that’s what it all comes down to. If you have none of the above going for you, but you DO have the love, then you’re good with God. Do you really believe that God is impressed with how much we supposedly know, or how much we are able to operate in spiritual gifts? The apostle Paul didn’t buy into that school of thought: “For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” (I Cor. 4:7). We can tell everybody about how much ‘ministry’ we’re doing and how much we’re moving in spiritual gifts, but where is the humility and the love? That’s really all God is looking for, and when it’s all said and done that is all that’s going to edify the hearts and souls of men. A lot of people need to learn the A-B-C’s of living for God, like the following proverb states: “Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips” (Prov. 27:2). Someone who is mature in the faith of Christ does not go around telling everyone how much they’re doing for God, they just do it. Oh yeah, and they do it with the love of God. That would be the same love of God of which the scripture says, “[love] vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up” (I Cor. 13:4). When I see someone extolling their own spiritual virtues on a regular basis, but yet I also see them neglecting natural godly concern for someone who is hurting; it’s not difficult to see that something is seriously wrong. Some folks need to slow down a little and readjust their focus on what’s worthy of focus. If our objective is anything other than to edify someone, then we need to honestly examine ourselves lest we end up falling into a booby trap.

The apostle Paul had a really good word of instruction regarding the subject of examination: “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves” (II Cor. 13:5). “The faith” of which the apostle speaks, is not about keeping a record of how many times we’ve prophesied to people, or procured their healing through our prayers. Those are very, very good things to have going on, but if we’re too delighted with ourselves because we are doing these things then we lose the meaning of them right then and there. It really can become a thing like the Pharisees did, of whom Jesus said, “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward” (Mat. 6:5). If we really want to know whether we’re “in the faith,” then we need to understand what “the faith” is all about: “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Gal. 5:14). If someone is injured they need to know that they’re cared about, and they need to be lifted up. They do not need to be told how great we are in Christ, and how much we’re doing for his ministry. That is not going to edify anything. When people feel God’s love coming out of someone toward them, they feel like their being built up. When people hear a lot of words coming out of someone about their own spiritual accolades, it simply doesn’t do anything to help them. This kind of thing is exactly what the apostle Paul was referring to when he wrote these words: “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself” (Gal. 6:2,3). The only way we can be 'something,’ is if our focus is on having godly care and concern for those who are in need. If our own spiritual exploits are what matter to us, then as the apostle said, we are 'nothing,’ while believing that we are 'something.’ I don’t think I can say it any plainer than that for now. God bless.