I once heard a story of a woman who saw a beautiful diamond ring. She sent a telegram to her husband to ask if she should buy it. He replied: ″No, price too high.″ But the telegraph operator left out the comma, so his wife received the response: ″No price too high.″ Delighted, she bought the ring and showed it to her husband. He was furious! He sued the telegraph company and won the lawsuit.

Being understood is crucial. The apostle Paul knows that. He has just rebuked the church in Corinth for forgetting love as they seek their gift of tongues (speaking in other languages). Paul now spells out that following ″the way of love″ (1 Corinthians 14:1) means using speech which everyone can understand in their public worship.

If they were to seek one of the gifts of tongues or prophecy, he says, it should be prophecy (vv. 1-5)-intelligible speech from God which strengthens, encourages, comforts, and edifies all. This is the gift to pray for and use when a church gathers. Tongues is a prayer language directed towards God which others don't understand but which edifies the individual using it (vv. 2, 4). It has its place, but not when the church gathers, unless it is interpreted and becomes intelligible (v. 5).

Paul emphasises his point with examples of a preacher who can't be understood (v. 6); a musical instrument that just makes noise (v. 7); a bugle that can't sound the alarm (v. 8); and a foreigner who can't overcome the language barrier (vv. 10-11). The conclusion is clear: seek intelligible speech that builds up others (v. 12).

But what if you have the gift of tongues? What should you do when the church gathers? Ask God for an interpretation so that what you say would benefit others (v. 13). Pray not just with your spirit, but also with your mind (vv. 14-15), so that others can join in and say ″amen″ (vv. 16-17). We don't gather in church for a private worship time, but to participate in public worship of God and be of benefit to others.

Paul speaks in tongues more than any of the Corinthians (v. 18), but, crucially, when he gathers with the church, he would rather share five words that will edify others than ten thousand in a tongue (v. 19). The Corinthians have to grow up (v. 20). Spiritual maturity is shown when you discern the appropriate time and place to use your gift such that fellow believers as well as non-believers can be helped. To an outsider, tongues might sound like madness and put them off (v. 23). By contrast, a well-chosen intelligible prophecy can have a profound impact and bring someone from sin to God (vv. 24-25).

Heavenly Father, please help me to excel in the gifts that will most benefit others, in the church and outside.