1 Corinthians 14.12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual [gifts], seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
Why does God bless His children with a variety of gifts and talents? These gifts are to be used to edify, or build up the rest of the body. They are never to be used to promote ourselves or draw attention to ourselves. These gifts from God are meant to be a source of edification and the glory of God, not entertainment. Biblical edification is not entertainment. Worship is not supposed to be a musical talent show that leaves you saying, my, was he or were they great. Preaching or teaching God’s Word is not meant to be a “speech” or “lecture” that leaves the “audience” in awe of the speaker’s ability to make his point eloquently (cp. 1 Cor 2.1-5).
Living in the media, entertainment-saturated era that we do, the pressure is on many of God’s servants to “perform”, rather than simply proclaim God’s truth. Elijah was not the least bit concerned if Ahab or anyone else in Israel liked what he preached. Noah was an ineffective communicator by today’s standards, because after 120 years of preaching, he only had 8 converts. He should have read the treatise on “how to communicate effectively in a post Christian Era” NOT!! God free us from the spirit of Lystra, who seeing a miracle of God proclaimed, and they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. Making much of men who are gifted by God is a mark of spiritual immaturity and a failure to recognize the Giver of the gifts of God. Without Jesus, we are nothing and can do nothing. Zippo! Lesser than Zero.
When David danced before The Lord or played his harp when Saul was despondent, he wasn’t on a platform putting on a show, nor did he request that lights to be dimmed to create an atmosphere. My oh my, dear ones. God deliver us from the “Entertainment Tonight” mentality that is so popular and prevalent today. Technology and the desire for excellence are not the problem, beloved. The problem is that our fallen nature thrives on performance and emotion and eloquence, rather than experience the presence and beauty of The Lord Jesus Christ in His splendor and glory. Using our gifts and talents should always be to bless others and point them to Jesus for the glory of God, never to establish a “following” or “put on a show.”
