It is love, then, that you should strive for. Set your hearts on spiritual gifts, especially the gift of proclaiming God's message.

The Spirit's presence is shown in some way in each person for the good of all.

Set your hearts, then, on the more important gifts. Best of all, however, is the following way.

He gave himself for us, to rescue us from all wickedness and to make us a pure people who belong to him alone and are eager to do good.

But those who proclaim God's message speak to people and give them help, encouragement, and comfort.

Those who speak in strange tongues help only themselves, but those who proclaim God's message help the whole church.

This is what I mean, my friends. When you meet for worship, one person has a hymn, another a teaching, another a revelation from God, another a message in strange tongues, and still another the explanation of what is said. Everything must be of help to the church.