In the past, we often viewed 1 Corinthians 13 as a chapter solely about love. However, during our recent study of Chapters 12 to 14 at the pulpit and in Sunday school, we discovered that these three chapters actually address the issue of spiritual gifts. Paul states in chapter 12, “But eagerly desire the greatest gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31). Then, at the end of chapter 13, he emphasizes, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). At the beginning of Chapter 14, he mentions, “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts …” This reveals the deep connections between spiritual gifts and love. Paul’s primary concern for the Corinthian church was not the quantity of their gifts, but whether their gifts were guided by the love of the Lord in rendering their service.

I thank the Lord that in the past few weeks, we have witnessed the commitment of many brothers and sisters to serve as deacons through the membership meeting. I especially want to encourage them to serve with the love of Christ. If our service is driven solely by personal passion or talent, we will soon lose motivation. But if our service is empowered by God’s love and His given gifts, we will experience His abundant blessings.

We also know that spiritual gifts are distributed by the Holy Spirit to each person as He wills (1 Corinthians 12:11) for the purpose of equipping the saints to build up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12). Paul mentions in his epistle that the ultimate goal of all service is to glorify God: “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 4:10-11).

I have been a part of ECC for forty years. God has given me numerous opportunities to serve Him in various church ministries. Now, I see God raising up a new generation to serve Him, and I am very grateful to witness the church’s commitment to follow the Lord’s will: to spread the Gospel widely, bless all nations, and pass it on from generation to generation.