If Paul had to pick and choose . . . and it’s evident that he felt he did . . . he’d choose the gift of prophesying over the gift of tongues. In a “taste test” . . . he’d pick the Spirit enabled ability to instruct others concerning divine revelation over the Spirit enabled ability to speak in an unfamiliar language. Walk him into the store of God’s gifting and tell him he could only choose one thing . . . and that one thing would be the gift to speak five words concerning the mind of God to people rather than the gifting to speak a thousand words of mysteries into heaven. And his reasoning for his choice? . . . the principle against which he weighed the relative merits? It’s because he wanted to “Build It Up!”

For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. . . . So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
(1Corinthians 14:2-4, 12 ESV)

Build up . . . In the first part of 1Corinthians 14 the term is used, in a couple of forms, 7 times. Looks like it comes from a two root words . . . one for house . . . one for roof. I’m thinking that it has the idea of putting a roof on the house . . . of enhancing the rooms and making them a home . . . thus, building it up. And while Paul debates the relative merits of the gift of prophesy vs. the gift of tongues, it’s less about the attributes of the gifting and more about their impact and implications for building.

The acid test Paul uses is, Does it build up the church? Regardless of the enabling . . . forget about the details of the gifting . . . look beyond the activity . . . the question to ask is, does it promote another’s growth in the things of God? . . . will it encourage another to set their face toward pursuing the kingdom of heaven? . . . will it console the hurting heart and direct it towards the Father of Lights, the Giver of every good gift, such that their faith is fueled . . . will it direct others to seek to be holy, just as He is holy?

There’s a lot of talk when the church comes together . . . but it’s the talk that impacts the walk that Paul’s really interested in. Not just the talk behind the pulpit, as important as it is. But the talk over the cup of coffee . . . the chit chat before service starts . . . the “greet” of the “meet and greet” during worship . . . the parting interactions as we head home . . . all of it can be used to build up. Mine is to have the principle in mind . . . that the purpose might be played out.

This isn’t an exhortation for the few . . . it’s the role of the entire family of God . . . the way in which God wired His church to operate . . .

And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ . . . speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.   (Ephesians 2:11-12, 15-16 ESV)

Saints (uh, that would be us) equipped for the building up the body of Christ . . . the body growing as it builds itself up in love.

Build it up . . . that’s the principle. Building up others . . . that’s the privilege. Being built up by others . . . that’s the blessing.

May God’s people seek to “put the roof on the house.” Build it up . . . by His grace . . . for His glory.