In I Corinthians 12 Paul spends the entire chapter describing the make-up of the giftings to the Church and their function in the Body of Christ, instructing that each one must be satisfied with their place in the Body of Christ and their spiritual make-up, the way God had created them. He then says to earnestly covet the best gift and the question is, why did he say that? Paul is saying that it is not wrong to desire something greater but that the Corinthian Church should covet the best gift, or the more excellent way. While it is great for us to know our giftings and which part we are playing in the operating of the Body of Christ, that should not be our major focus or be treated as a badge of honour. Every one of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit, every office serving in the Body, should only be motivated by love to make it all truly meaningful. Love, Paul says, is patient, kind, does not envy, does not boast, is not proud, does not dishonour others, is not self-seeking or easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, does not delight in evil but rejoices in truth, always protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres, and never fails. This is also a description of holiness, a description of God himself, because He is love, the most complete, mature and wholesome being which exisists, as are Jesus and the Holy Spirit. When we have moved into the operation of perfect love through us, the present operation of the gfts willl pale in comparison to the operation of the perfect. This perfection is when the Church moves into the maturity of love, being grown up to the fullness of God, the full stature of Christ. This happens as we behold the glory of His face and his glory shines back like a mirror, transforming us into His image as we comprehend His full maturity. We come to know who we are, just as He knows who we are. It is the purpose of the five-fold governmental ministry given to the Church, to teach Her how to build each other up towards the work of ministry, the end-goal being the fruitfulness of this perfection. Love is the more excellent way, the way of the third world, the world without end.
