Skip to main content

Gifts

             We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. (Romans 12:6-8)

 “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah,  and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you. (Exodus 31:2-6) 

 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. (I Corinthians 13:8)

 

What’s your gift? Do you know? How do you know? Part of my struggle with gifts is the nagging thought that spiritual gifts should be something new, different, and impressive. Once you’re saved, you receive this gift and go from being a nobody to one of the top – well – million in the world, which means probably the top fifty in your community. It’s like Bezalel and Oholiab in Exodus, who were gifted for the construction of the Tabernacle.

The problem is that we don’t aren’t shown Bezalel or Oholiab starting their blinks having none of those skills and finished their blinks as master-craftsmen. They could have been trained in Egypt as part of God’s plan. But I suspect we like to think of these giftings as “rags to riches” stories.

What’s more, we tend to rank the gifts. Things that are showy: miracles, prophecy, and even tongues are visible and exciting. But who notices the servant in the corner who waits patiently for the chance to do the dishes?

I’ve taken spiritual gift assessments a number of times, and I’ve been told that I am a leader, an administrator, a teacher. It seems as though every time I take on a leadership, administrative, or teaching role, I’ve failed miserably. But over the past several years, I’ve been weeding people’s gardens in Florida, and while I am not really fond of the job of weeding, I find great fulfillment in how good the places look when I’m done.

The problem with this way of looking at gifts is that it’s more about what pleases me than what results in God getting the glory, or even than what builds up others. And the problem with that way of looking at gifts is that it almost requires that our gifts be something that makes us miserable because if we enjoy it, we’re somehow robbing God. But if  you and your friend both enjoy something, does your enjoyment diminish the friend’s?

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Think About These Things

                 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8) This passage is a major challenge for me. Like everyone else, I struggle to keep my thoughts from wandering off into the weeds, then wondering what possible benefits those weeds might have… Sigh. But as a writer, I have to delve at least a little into the ignoble, wrong, impure, unlovely, and debased. After all, there’s no story if everything’s just as it should be and everyone’s happy. As Christians, there are times when we need to deal with all the negatives, but that makes it even more important that we practice turning our minds by force of attention to what is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. It’s just too easy to get stuck in a swamp. With my...
1 comment
Read more

Higher Thoughts

  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the  Lord . “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)           The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,   for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord      so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (I Corinthians 2:15-16) If you read about the ancient gods of the various peoples, you’ll find that they think just like people. In fact, they think just like the sort of people we really wouldn’t want to be around. They think like the most corrupt Hollywood producer or, like hormone overloaded teens with no upbringing.   It’s embarrassing to read. I have a friend who argues that because God is not just like us, He is so vastly dif...
2 comments
Read more

Pure...

            The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (I Timothy 1:5)   I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:15-16) I’m probably cheating - or mishandling the Bible, but earlier I was thinking about love being pure and purifying. And hatred being pure and purifying. And anger…joy…patience… fear… jealousy… courage…lust… and other strongly felt feelings, attitudes, and beliefs. Today’s verse brings purity and love together, so it’s the verse of the day, but it’s not really the focus. That means my motive for sharing it with you probably isn’t pure. As you read through my list, you   probably thought, “Yeah” about some, and “What’s she on?” about others. But consider how much hatred, a...
Post a Comment
Read more