Note 16 at 1 Cor. 14:12: Paul is presenting the proper motive for going to church. It is to bless others. We should look forward to church as an opportunity to share what God has given us with others. Too often people's motive for going to church is to pay a debt to God or to get blessed personally. Of course, there are times when we need the help of our brothers and sisters in Christ, but it really is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).

With this in mind, every member of the body of Christ should be prepared to give of himself when he goes to church, just as he would expect the minister to be prepared. It wouldn't be right for the minister to just "show up" and not have anything to give. Likewise, it's not right for members of the church to just show up and warm a pew. We should pray and be expectant that the Lord will use us to show love to someone else, or minister through the gifts, as Paul is presenting here.