This article was written by Mary Lou Busby for The Hammer Magazine.
“Are you exercising your spiritual gift?”
“Who, me? I don’t have a gift.”
I am amazed at the number of people with whom I come in contact who have no clue what their area of giftedness is in the Body of Christ. It is as if the pastors, teachers and evangelists are the only ones who know, and that is because they are so obviously exercising them.
The Scripture gives us various lists of the gifts: prophecy, healing, wisdom, teaching, workers of miracles, helping others, evangelism, administrations, tongues, interpretation of tongues, serving, encouragement, contributing, leadership, mercy, hospitality, discernment (Rom. 12, 1 Cor. 12, 2 Tim. 1:16), and even these are not exhaustive. The Scripture further exhorts us that each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms (1 Peter 4:10).
How do we discover our own spiritual gift or gifts? We should simply ask ourselves, “What would I enjoy doing the most?”
“Do I like to organize?” Some women who are exceptional housekeepers are probably also good at organizing events, work crews or activities, and it is work they can do at home. For example, they can make phone calls to recruit people for, or remind them of, responsibilities for future events. For some people this would be a tedious and nerve-wracking task. But for others phone-calling is actually enjoyable, even when used for administrative purposes.
“Do I feel real sympathy for those in need? Do I like to listen to people?” These individuals with the gift of mercy enjoy keeping track of families with medial problems by sending cards or offering to babysit, or they just enjoy listening to others share their problems. They are the ones who usually know which families in the Body need prayer, food, money, or help of some kind. Even though they may not be able to provide the help in each situation, they can make the need known to those in the Body who can.
“Do I enjoy inviting people into my home?” Hospitality is certainly a much-needed and appreciated gift in the Body. While all of us are told to practice hospitality, some of us especially enjoy having others in our home and should make a point of doing it on a very regular basis, whether just for coffee or popcorn, or for a meal. Another form of hospitality is preparing a meal and sending it to a family in need. Some do this regularly. Whenever someone is hospitalized or a new baby is born, these families do not need to be called and asked to make a meal, they volunteer. All of these are ways of administering God’s grace in its various forms (1 Peter 4:10).
“Do I like to do behind-the-scenes work?” Then perhaps I could set up chairs at church or volunteer to do some typing.
“Has the Lord gifted me with financial abundance?” Then I need to look for ways to give cheerfully.
“Do I have a strong inclination that a certain teaching is wrong or right?” Then I must use that gift of discernment.
Of course these are only a few uses of the many gifts God gives us. When we use our gifts well for Him, whether public or behind the scenes, the Body of Christ is strengthened. As the Body is strengthened, then others see that we are Christ’s disciples by the creative love we have for one another.
“Are you exercising your spiritual gift?”
“Who, me? I don’t have a gift.”
I am amazed at the number of people with whom I come in contact who have no clue what their area of giftedness is in the Body of Christ. It is as if the pastors, teachers and evangelists are the only ones who know, and that is because they are so obviously exercising them.
The Scripture gives us various lists of the gifts: prophecy, healing, wisdom, teaching, workers of miracles, helping others, evangelism, administrations, tongues, interpretation of tongues, serving, encouragement, contributing, leadership, mercy, hospitality, discernment (Rom. 12, 1 Cor. 12, 2 Tim. 1:16), and even these are not exhaustive. The Scripture further exhorts us that each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms (1 Peter 4:10).
How do we discover our own spiritual gift or gifts? We should simply ask ourselves, “What would I enjoy doing the most?”
“Do I like to organize?” Some women who are exceptional housekeepers are probably also good at organizing events, work crews or activities, and it is work they can do at home. For example, they can make phone calls to recruit people for, or remind them of, responsibilities for future events. For some people this would be a tedious and nerve-wracking task. But for others phone-calling is actually enjoyable, even when used for administrative purposes.
“Do I feel real sympathy for those in need? Do I like to listen to people?” These individuals with the gift of mercy enjoy keeping track of families with medial problems by sending cards or offering to babysit, or they just enjoy listening to others share their problems. They are the ones who usually know which families in the Body need prayer, food, money, or help of some kind. Even though they may not be able to provide the help in each situation, they can make the need known to those in the Body who can.
“Do I enjoy inviting people into my home?” Hospitality is certainly a much-needed and appreciated gift in the Body. While all of us are told to practice hospitality, some of us especially enjoy having others in our home and should make a point of doing it on a very regular basis, whether just for coffee or popcorn, or for a meal. Another form of hospitality is preparing a meal and sending it to a family in need. Some do this regularly. Whenever someone is hospitalized or a new baby is born, these families do not need to be called and asked to make a meal, they volunteer. All of these are ways of administering God’s grace in its various forms (1 Peter 4:10).
“Do I like to do behind-the-scenes work?” Then perhaps I could set up chairs at church or volunteer to do some typing.
“Has the Lord gifted me with financial abundance?” Then I need to look for ways to give cheerfully.
“Do I have a strong inclination that a certain teaching is wrong or right?” Then I must use that gift of discernment.
Of course these are only a few uses of the many gifts God gives us. When we use our gifts well for Him, whether public or behind the scenes, the Body of Christ is strengthened. As the Body is strengthened, then others see that we are Christ’s disciples by the creative love we have for one another.
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