There's an interesting thing about tongues (not prophesy). It is the only gift Paul wished we would all do, yet he also said it was the least of the gifts. Consider ... every other gift goes thru us to edify someone else. Tongues is the only gift that edifies the doer. Now, Paul said that in our seeking gifts we should seek those that edify others first. And that pretty much encompasses all of them ... all except the one that edifies ourselves. Which is the one he said we all really ought to be doing.
God says we are to give and give until death, but He realizes that it will be unto a quick death if we don't get a little recharge now and then. Tongues is the gift that edifies ourselves ... it is the recharge gift, the one you use after you drain yourself helping others with the prophesy and healing and wisdom and such. It is the one we plug into to refill the tanks after a long day, so that we might be fresh and new for the day to come.
This world is and always will be wearisome. Especially when we are charged with putting on the armor and fighting the fight every single day whether we want to or not. But God doesn't leave us without a way to recharge. But like all the other gifts, it is up to us to seek it.