Wisdom for the Common Good

 DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS

WISDOM FOR THE COMMON GOOD 

1 Cor 12:7-11

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.   11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

NIV

Now it is time to look into these gifts of the Spirit, but first we need to know all of these gifts are for the common good. As we noted before, the common good should only apply to those who are present during the manifestation of these gifts. It is interesting as with the fruit of the Spirit, the gifts are not for the person that are being manifested through. The fruit does not benefit the tree, but those who pick them from the tree. It would appear that the gifts are the same. For if, for example, we were to be given a message of wisdom, it serves no purpose unless the common good benefit. Let us consider just what this message of wisdom means. We first must realize this is a gift of the Spirit. Wisdom, at lease this type of wisdom does not come from spending years of educational pursuits. This wisdom is the Greek word Sofia, which means board and full intelligence. It is used as a wisdom that belongs to men, but in this case it is supreme intelligence that belongs to God because it comes from the Spirit who manifested His supreme, divine, wisdom upon and through a man. This type of wisdom cannot be learned, nor does this wisdom require any special education, or position in society or in the church. This wisdom is bestowed by the Spirit at the exact time and place the Spirit determines and through whoever is willing to speak that message of wisdom for the common good. It would seem the Spirit does require an open spirit within a person to manifest his gifts. If we are closed to any of the gifts, are we saying that we are closed to the voice of the Spirit, closed to God doing a work in and through us for the common good? How can that even seem possible? We need to always be open to the voice of the Spirit who dwells within us, so that, in this case, the common good needs to hear divine supreme wisdom so as to become a people closer to God, we need to respond with that gift which is being manifested within us. We should also note that these gifts are not always, nor should they be, permanent residence within a person. We think it would be inappropriate to use the phrase, “I have the gift of” whatever of those gifts the Spirit decides to use at a moment, in this case, “I have the gift of wisdom”. That sounds wrong, because it is not our gift, but it belongs to the Spirit, and he bestows or manifests it through a willing spirit when it is needed for the common good. Let us always be willing or open to the working of the Spirit so that we could benefit to the common good.