God’s gifts to us…

When Christians are at odds about what is most important, some of the conflict could be rooted in their spiritual gifts. Those who study the gifts teach that this passage in Romans is about motivations:

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:6–8)

Years of observation and study say a Christian has all seven, but one or two will dominate and determine their focus in ministry, and should be appropriate to other situations. A brief description puts it this way:

Prophesy (perceiver of God’s will) - desires to be centered on spiritual principles.
Server - desires doing practical things for others.
Teacher - information gatherer and wants it shared.
Exhorter - desires to know and live the truth, looking forward.
Giver - provides specific needs, a channel for God’s resources.
Leader (Administrator or visionary) - desires organization, moving forward, orderly.
Compassion - desires right relationships, hurts healed, people to be comforted.

Gift combinations produce interesting results. For instance, a perceiver/teacher will be more black and white than a compassion/teacher. An encourager also gifted in leadership with function differently than an encourager/server.

As I read the devotional book for this year, I finally realized that the author does not have the same gifts I do, and I’ve tended to challenge some of the entries. In my thinking, if someone is upset or filled with anxiety, it is due to an error in thinking and not being centered on what God says. Instead of comfort, or to be comforted, they need to better understand the will of God.

Today’s reading focuses on this verse: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.” (2 Corinthians 1:3) Of course this is true, yet how God treats me depends on what is making me uncomfortable. If I want my way and am resisting Him, He is not going to cheer me up by giving an okay to that resistance. Sometimes I face strong discipline. At the same time, I know the Lord is the only one who can give me a hug and a rebuke at the same time.

The gifts He gives all require faith in their use. If I am walking in the flesh, I can be a black and white know-it-all. If an encourager is walking in the flesh, they come across as a used car salesman (apologies for the stereotype). A comforter can totally miss the mark if I need correction. This is why God gave this mixture of gifts. The Body of Christ needs all seven, used in wisdom and timing. If an elderly person slips and knocks over a cup of coffee, they need a different word than if the spill was made by a young person who was showing off and careless.

Last week, my daughter asked me an interesting question. “Everyone has a main goal in life. What is yours?” We’d been talking about paying bills and having no debt, so I was not sure what she expected, but this came out: “I want to be content in all of life, no matter the circumstances.” I may have inserted “trusting God” in there, can’t remember. However, just saying it and remembering what I said, has helped me this week as we moved to a different house and face the formidable task of finding a place for what is needed and disposing of the rest. Physical fatigue is one thing, but being stressed and discontent takes a far greater toll. Attitude is more important then gifts!

PRAY: Lord Jesus, I am grateful that You are the God of all comfort and the God of everything else that is needed. You sent others with gifts that minister to me and give me opportunities to serve others with my gifts. Most of all, You are strong, even perfect in all of them, and are able to be all that I need when I need it. Jesus, You are God who is enough!