The Best Gift
In 1 Corinthians 12 it talks mainly about spiritual gifts and how they are given to all men and how all men are given different gifts. In verse 31 it says,
"But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way".
This verse is interesting and leads to three questions:
1. What does it mean to "covet earnestly"
2. What are the best gifts
3. What is a "more excellent way"
We read in Exodus 20 that "Thou shalt not covet". In the topical guide it states as a definition of the word covet, "As used in the scriptures, to covet is to envy someone or to have an excessive desire for something". The prophet David O. McKay (1873–1970) quoted Charles Jefferson, who wrote: “The only thing which places a man above the beasts of the field is his possession of the spiritual gifts. … Man’s earthly existence is but a test as to whether he will concentrate his efforts, his mind, and his soul upon the things which contribute to the comfort and gratification of his physical instincts and passions, or whether he will make as his life’s end and purpose the acquisition of spiritual qualities.” When we think of spiritual gifts are we concentrating our efforts, our mind, and even our very soul on desiring these things? To covet spiritual gifts is to not only seek, but to seek diligently. Often times we don't even think about the spiritual gifts that we have. When was the last time you remember taking the time to sit down and to ponder the spiritual gifts you have already been given? When was the last time you sat down to make a list of spiritual gifts you would like to receive? We are counseled in 2 Nephi 9:31 of the Book of Mormon to not "spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy". To covet earnestly simply means to desire on a higher level to where our very soul yearns for what we desire.
When speaking about the "best gifts" it is important to understand what exactly are spiritual gifts. Spiritual gifts are anything that guide us, give us strength, lead us to choose good, encourage us, and edify us. Elder Marvin J. Ashton of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (1915–94) gave some examples of a few gifts that are not as well known: “the gift of asking; the gift of listening; the gift of hearing and using a still, small voice; the gift of being able to weep; the gift of avoiding contention; the gift of being agreeable; the gift of avoiding vain repetition; the gift of seeking that which is righteous; the gift of not passing judgment; the gift of looking to God for guidance; the gift of being a disciple; the gift of caring for others; the gift of being able to ponder; the gift of offering prayer; the gift of bearing a mighty testimony; and the gift of receiving the Holy Ghost.” In 3 Nephi 12:48 we are commanded to be perfect which is impossible for us to obtain here in this life but as Elder Mervyn B. Ashton of the seventy stated, "Heavenly Father will inspire us, as we ponder and pray, to seek those gifts that will best help us perfect ourselves. President George Q. Cannon (1827–1901) stated: “If any of us are imperfect, it is our duty to pray for the gift that will make us perfect. … No man ought to say, ‘Oh, I cannot help this; it is my nature.’ He is not justified in it, for the reason that God has promised to give strength to correct these things, and to give gifts that will eradicate them'".
Elder Robert E. Sackley (1988) stated, "Finding “a more excellent way” means being totally converted to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and doing all that we can to fulfill those covenants we make in becoming His disciples. To find that “more excellent way,” brothers and sisters, we must cast aside our old selves and our old habits and ways of thinking. We must first recognize how we should change, and then we must make those changes, thus putting on the new and beginning to live as we have never lived before—walking in a newness of life."
Spiritual gifts ultimately lead us to a more excellent way to become like Christ our older brother and our Savior, someone who constantly had the spirit with him and possessed an innumerable amount of spiritual gifts. Christ is the best gift we could have ever received and we would be nothing without Him. My hope is that we all may exercise the gift of agency that we have been given and use it discover the spiritual gifts that we have already been given and seek to develop more spiritual gifts that will bring us closer to our Savior and bring us closer to perfection.
"But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way".
This verse is interesting and leads to three questions:
1. What does it mean to "covet earnestly"
2. What are the best gifts
3. What is a "more excellent way"
We read in Exodus 20 that "Thou shalt not covet". In the topical guide it states as a definition of the word covet, "As used in the scriptures, to covet is to envy someone or to have an excessive desire for something". The prophet David O. McKay (1873–1970) quoted Charles Jefferson, who wrote: “The only thing which places a man above the beasts of the field is his possession of the spiritual gifts. … Man’s earthly existence is but a test as to whether he will concentrate his efforts, his mind, and his soul upon the things which contribute to the comfort and gratification of his physical instincts and passions, or whether he will make as his life’s end and purpose the acquisition of spiritual qualities.” When we think of spiritual gifts are we concentrating our efforts, our mind, and even our very soul on desiring these things? To covet spiritual gifts is to not only seek, but to seek diligently. Often times we don't even think about the spiritual gifts that we have. When was the last time you remember taking the time to sit down and to ponder the spiritual gifts you have already been given? When was the last time you sat down to make a list of spiritual gifts you would like to receive? We are counseled in 2 Nephi 9:31 of the Book of Mormon to not "spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy". To covet earnestly simply means to desire on a higher level to where our very soul yearns for what we desire.
When speaking about the "best gifts" it is important to understand what exactly are spiritual gifts. Spiritual gifts are anything that guide us, give us strength, lead us to choose good, encourage us, and edify us. Elder Marvin J. Ashton of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (1915–94) gave some examples of a few gifts that are not as well known: “the gift of asking; the gift of listening; the gift of hearing and using a still, small voice; the gift of being able to weep; the gift of avoiding contention; the gift of being agreeable; the gift of avoiding vain repetition; the gift of seeking that which is righteous; the gift of not passing judgment; the gift of looking to God for guidance; the gift of being a disciple; the gift of caring for others; the gift of being able to ponder; the gift of offering prayer; the gift of bearing a mighty testimony; and the gift of receiving the Holy Ghost.” In 3 Nephi 12:48 we are commanded to be perfect which is impossible for us to obtain here in this life but as Elder Mervyn B. Ashton of the seventy stated, "Heavenly Father will inspire us, as we ponder and pray, to seek those gifts that will best help us perfect ourselves. President George Q. Cannon (1827–1901) stated: “If any of us are imperfect, it is our duty to pray for the gift that will make us perfect. … No man ought to say, ‘Oh, I cannot help this; it is my nature.’ He is not justified in it, for the reason that God has promised to give strength to correct these things, and to give gifts that will eradicate them'".
Elder Robert E. Sackley (1988) stated, "Finding “a more excellent way” means being totally converted to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and doing all that we can to fulfill those covenants we make in becoming His disciples. To find that “more excellent way,” brothers and sisters, we must cast aside our old selves and our old habits and ways of thinking. We must first recognize how we should change, and then we must make those changes, thus putting on the new and beginning to live as we have never lived before—walking in a newness of life."
Spiritual gifts ultimately lead us to a more excellent way to become like Christ our older brother and our Savior, someone who constantly had the spirit with him and possessed an innumerable amount of spiritual gifts. Christ is the best gift we could have ever received and we would be nothing without Him. My hope is that we all may exercise the gift of agency that we have been given and use it discover the spiritual gifts that we have already been given and seek to develop more spiritual gifts that will bring us closer to our Savior and bring us closer to perfection.
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