We have more on spiritual gifts in this chapter, but I want to point out the first verse. Pursue love. Why pursue love and not the gifts? God is love. He is the one we are after. Our one command is to love others, or you could say to love God and others. Love is the one thing needful. We desire gifts in order to love others.

Pursuing gifts, or anything else we want such as job, house, position, or whatever, is putting that thing where God belongs. That’s an idol. We pursue God.

Paul says to earnestly desire the gifts, especially to prophesy. That sounds strong. But he just said to pursue love. So, does “earnestly desire the gifts” mean to pursue them? No. Why should we earnestly desire the gifts? To love others! Because it’s love that we’re after.

What does Paul say? Why is prophesy encouraged? Because it builds up the church. It’s meant for others. We’re to love others by serving them with our gifts.

There’s a description of what church looks like when people are using their gifting. They come together and each one has something for the whole.

There is instruction that things be done orderly. One at a time, don’t speak in a tongue if there is no interpretation, weigh what is said by the prophets.

There should not be confusion in a meeting. Confusion is from the enemy. Jesus brings peace and clarity.

Part of Paul’s order in church is for the women to keep silent and ask their questions at home. I am very guilty of asking my husband questions during the service. I try to remember to use a notebook, so I can record my comments and questions to go over with my husband after the service.

However, again, we see “permission” here in regards to women. They are to be in submission. A submitted woman with permission can speak and share her gifting. Paul gives the order that a woman should pray and prophesy with her head covered. How is she going to do those things without speaking? Paul obviously expects them to not be silent when praying or prophesying! And one doesn’t prophesy to oneself. She’s speaking to others and giving them God’s word.