Some Christians put more emphasis on the spiritual gifts, like preaching, teaching, evangelizing, or in the charismatic circles, sign gifts like speaking in tongues, as if the gifts of the Spirit are more important than the fruit of the Spirit. “I’m a preacher, Bible teacher, or missionary, so I am spiritually superior to you and more effective in spreading the Gospel and teaching spiritual things than you,” or “I speak in tongues, so I am more spiritual than you”. After adding the poster to my Facebook page and receiving a few comments, I realized that the quote parallels 1 Corinthians 13, also known as ‘The Love Chapter’. Basically, the gifts are meaningless without the fruit. “And the greatest of these is love…”
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Rene Yoshi
April 21st, 2015 at 9:54 am
Rene, thanks for the reminder 🙂
April 21st, 2015 at 9:59 am
You are very welcome, Tienny! Thank YOU!
April 23rd, 2015 at 11:22 am
🙂
April 21st, 2015 at 10:42 am
This is very true. Paul said the gifts were virtually meaningless without love. Also the fruit you bear is not for your consumption, but for others. Gifts of the Spirit are necessary, but God’s Word says they will one day cease, but nowhere does it say the fruit will cease. Again looking at the two you cannot impart the gifts, (the Holy Spirit can empower you with certain gifts) but you can and should impart the fruit. The bottom line I think is that God wants a balanced Christian who is humble and obedient. When the situation calls for the gift of discernment or knowledge then be obedient and use that gift, but when the situation calls for peace love and understanding be also ready. When I hang around the Pentecostal, Charismatic crowd or less than humble preachers and deacons and they ask me what I do? I tell that I’m a fruit salesman.
April 21st, 2015 at 11:11 am
[chuckle] Thank you, Randell!!
April 22nd, 2015 at 2:19 pm
“The gifts are meaningless without the fruit.” That is so good and so true. Great post, Rene.
April 22nd, 2015 at 4:10 pm
Thank you so much, Bill!