“So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church” (1 Corinthians 14:12).

The Corinthians were energetic in their pursuit of spiritual gifts. That’s not a bad thing at all. We certainly need the Holy Spirit’s assistance in whatever we do to serve God. The problem comes when our human nature hijacks the process. Spiritual gifts are not to build us up in the eyes of others. They are intended to build up the Church.

Paul’s first encounter with Jesus led to his introduction to a local church in Damascus. Jesus sent him to meet a believer named Ananias. It was through Ananias that he was healed of blindness and filled with the Spirit. From that time on Paul served Jesus by building up His Church.

The pattern for all of us was established by Paul. God gives us gifts that enable us to do ministry—whatever that ministry may be. And all of those ministries are designed to build up the Church. The Church isn’t a building in which we worship. It is people. Jesus loves His family—the Church. Whatever else we may do our responsibility is to use our gifts to build up others.