Coveting God’s Gifts

1 Corinthians 12: 4-6, 27-31 (NIV)

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

(KJV) 31 - But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Coveting in Context:

Exodus 20:17 (NLT)

“You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.”

Deuteronomy 5:21 NLT

“You must not covet your neighbor’s wife. You must not covet your neighbor’s house or land, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.”
We see this mentioned several times in the New Testament also:

Colossians 3: 5 (ESV)

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Luke 12:15 (NKJV)

And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

Ephesians 5:3 (NKJV)

But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;

Matthew Henry Commentary: (Exodus 20:17)

The others (commandments) forbid all desire of doing what will be an injury to our neighbor; this forbids all wrong desire of having what will gratify ourselves.

1 Corinthians 14:1(NLT)

Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy.

Amplified Bible
Pursue [this] love [with eagerness, make it your goal], yet earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual gifts [to be used by believers for the benefit of the church], but especially that you may prophesy [to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people].

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (ESV)

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is the aim of the spiritual gifts. It is possible to possess and exercise impressive spiritual gifts without love. If we do, the Bible states we gain “nothing”.

Matthew 25:22-29 (NIV)

“The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.” ‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.

But here are a few things for starters:

Begin with the Bible:
Soak in 1 Corinthians 12–14, Romans 12, and Ephesians 4. Read the book of Acts.

Pray:
Ask God to stir you for more and to lead you and guide you into where that would be.

Seek Sound Teaching and Testimonies:
These will fuel your desire as well as increase your knowledge. Find more helpful/trusted resources, and guidance from Mature believer or leader.

Look to Meet a Need:
The spiritual gifts are not fireworks for our oohs and aahs. They are mainly given as means to extend love and the grace of God to others. Taking steps for the sake of Christ to love others whose needs extend beyond our capacities puts us (and them) squarely in the path of God’s grace. Begin to step out in that area! See what God will do!






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