Dave

Great post CHeryl!

I always look at gifts as not a gift that is given to me, but rather a gift that is given through me. This is why it needs to be used for the edification of the body, because it has not been given just to me, but given for me to pass on. Ephesians 4:7-14 also suggests this (if I am reading it right) as Christ has given the gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers to build the body of Christ – not so some lucky chump could say “Hey I got the teaching gift…yeah!”. The reason the gifts are given is not for the individual, but for the body.

No doubt some in Paul’s time used gifts for their own edification (1 Cor 14:27-28). In a sense this is still building up the body (be it only one part – 1 Cor 14:4-5) and so Paul exhorts them to use it for a greater good. From my perspective to suggest that God would give a gift for someone not to use, then that just does not fit the NT pic.

Mark, I personally do not think that any gifts came with a built in use by date! Others might disagree!