Godliness Over Giftedness

1 Corinthians 3:1 KJV

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

Paul had previously assured this church that they came behind in no gift. They were undoubtedly then a:

• Gifted
• Dynamic
• Vibrant

bunch. But here he says they were both carnal and babes.

I am reminded of the gifted child. Often it is the one who is the most gifted, whose mind conceives things advanced beyond his peers, who becomes the biggest trouble maker among the children. A natural leader, these gifted ones become bored with the status quo. They want to move more quickly than the established pace allows. They often become more than trail blazers but rebels and even criminals.

Here is the strange twist; though they are gifted, because of their immaturity, they could only receive the milk of God's Word and not meat. Though they are the ones we would most think are ready for meat, and they certainly are the ones who are not satisfied with milk but believe themselves to be advanced and ready for meat, these are the very ones God confines to the milk of the Word.

Humility and patience are always qualities in vogue. They never grow old fashioned. Through them spiritual gifts become refined and usable. Through them giftedness becomes godliness.