What is Better than a Spiritual Gift

While the Bible rightly divided is clear that the supernatural gifts given by the Holy Ghost at the establishment of the Body of Christ have ceased (Eph 4:11-16, 1 Cor 13:8-13), many Christians seek supernatural powers from God to “experience all God has to offer” or feel like there is “something more” to the Christian walk than they are currently experiencing. In the same passage that the Apostle Paul deals with spiritual gifts to the Corinthian church, he notes that there is “a more excellent way” than spiritual gifts: Charity (1 Cor 12:31-13:13).

Charity, not love (you can love a bad thing, but charity rejoices in truth), is more excellent than any spiritual gift someone could have received from the Holy Spirit. Paul says without it, he is nothing! Charity is longsuffering, is kind, isn’t envious, doesn’t boast, isn’t unseemly, is selfless, isn’t easily provoked, thinks no evil, doesn’t rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in truth, bears all things, believes, hopes, and endures all things, and most importantly: Charity never fails. Charity, the bond of perfectness (Col 3:14), has much more power to change us and the people around us than any spiritual gift. Charity is what we exude when we see the need for souls saved and saints edified as the grace of God works in and out of us as we study the Word of God.

What’s better than a spiritual gifting is the supernatural transformation that the Holy Spirit causes in our hearts and minds when we understand the grace of Jesus Christ. Paul learned after praying for healing that there was something far better:  

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

This concept of finding contentment in God and His sufficient grace is further expounded upon by Paul:

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” - Philippians 4:11-13

“But godliness with contentment is great gain.” - 1 Timothy 6:6

When we understand the power of Christ’s sufficient grace to save and change us, we realize that it is far better than spiritual gifts. The power and strength to endure adversity, with the right heart, the right mind, all while testifying of a loving God who died for us while we were yet sinners, is far more powerful than any spiritual gift. Rather than ask God to grant you powers from on high, let us seek to rest in the glory of the grace of God that we already have in Christ, where we find lasting love, peace, and joy. This is great gain.