Using Them Properly

             However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if prophecy, in proportion to one’s faith; if service, in the act of serving; or the one who teaches, in the act of teaching; or the one who exhorts, in the work of exhortation; the one who gives, with generosity; the one who is in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows mercy with cheerfulness. (Romans 12: 6-8)

 

            I know, I know. Nowhere in Paul’s exhortation does he mention the terms manic, obsessive, or excessive, all of which have been mentioned in connection with me or my activities. That’s the end of the stick I need to work on. He also failed to mention that these activities are to be done if they don’t interfere with your favorite TV show, or if you’re bored, or that they need only be done if you believe yourself likely to get applause or accolades as an expert. I think I’m not the only one who might have to admit that we have hold of that end of the stick. I suspect I have both ends of the stick at least part of the time.

            To give the proper performance level for most of the gifts, it is doing the gift. Where the doing is not the key, the manner of the doing is. This makes sense when we think of others. It would be a crime for someone with a great voice to not sing or speak, and nearly as great a crime if they sang or spoke poorly. But when it comes to our working on or with our gifts, we may tend to make excuses, either denying that we have them or giving ourselves over to indolence.

            The denial of gifts and laziness in their employment is a huge problem for the Church. A third problem is pigeonholing. If I am tested and declared to have the gift of service, that exempts me from giving generously, or exhorting, or showing mercy, doesn’t it? The good Sunday School answer is a resounding “NO!” But how often do we excuse ourselves on those grounds?

                I have long suggested that if you see a problem, that’s your cue to try to do something to help solve it, starting by taking it to the Father in prayer. Your part in solving the problem may be to pray for those who are working on it. It might be to donate. It might be to step in and serve. And those things might not be your gift. Sometimes, our role is obvious. If we see litter, we pick it up. In others, it’s not.

            Those taking emergency response courses are told two firm rules. 1) Never put yourself or someone else in danger, and 2) Never do something that is outside of your training/knowledge. These are good parameters in spiritual service as well. They don’t mean that we shouldn’t step out of our comfort zones, but if doing something endangers our relationship with God or with others (or with ourselves) or if it involves doing something we don’t know how to, we need to pray and obey God’s directions, which may well include learning the needed thing. And if God gives us the gift of learning something, then Paul’s pattern for learning that thing would probably be to learn  with thoroughness – and then use it.