Day 30: Spiritual Gifts

Generally, we respond quickly when disease disrupts the normal structure or function of our body. Aches, pains, and discomforts captivate our attention even when in a relatively minor part or extremity (e.g., paper cut between fingers or blister on the back or your heel). When one part suffers, we tend to redeploy the attention of every other body part to tend the injury or discomfort. Though paper cuts don't distract us from purpose for long, we all know the ramifications of trying to ignore serious illness and disease (e.g., a ruptured appendix).

1 Cor 12:27: Now you are Christ’s body, and each of you is a member of it. (NET)

In this section of scripture, Paul is discussing various spiritual gifts that the Holy Spirit has given to different people in the Church. Every believer has at least one spiritual gift (1 Cor 12:7). The most important thing to know about spiritual gifts is that they are given to foster unity of the body…not for distinction of the individual.

There are several passages that list some of the gifts (1 Cor 12:4-11, and 28, Rom 12:6-8, Eph 4:11, 1 Pet 4:9-11). We have no reason to conclude that the list compiled from these passages is comprehensive. Other gifts are implied or logically reasoned to be instrumental in nurturing the Church. Further, some are alluded to or detailed in the Old Testament.

Some of my personal favorites include teaching, encouragement, discernment, and serving. Frankly, I tend to envy hospitality, prayer, and evangelism. Favoring some over others is like slanting your gym workouts toward upper body and skipping leg days. It's a common story. But exaggerating the disparity will result in a less than optimal physique. An Olympian upper body atop little scrawny baby legs is going to limit that athlete.

Reading each of the “list” passaged in context makes one particular emphasis clear. Let's see if you agree.

What is the focus in the chapter following 1 Cor 12?

What is the first phrase following the Rom 12:6-8 passage?

What umbrella does Peter offer in 1 Pet 4:8?

Some congregations will boast of being Spirit filled. I wonder how often they have the fruit to back up their claim.

Gal 5:22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control... (NET)

In Ephesians 4, Paul formally stresses that a mature body in Christ will only happen if we “practice the truth in love.” Divisions can arise in the Church when people prioritize their gifts above the gifting of others. We need to look diligently for what God is doing in the lives of those around us. Only then can we really know how we fit in.

Is your spiritual gift listed in any of the above passages?

What spiritual gifts do you think God has given to those close to you?

1 Cor 12:12 For just as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body—though many—are one body, so too is Christ. …17 If the whole body were an eye, what part would do the hearing? If the whole were an ear, what part would exercise the sense of smell? 18 But as a matter of fact, God has placed each of the members in the body just as he decided. 19 If they were all the same member, where would the body be? 20 So now there are many members, but one body. …God has blended together the body, giving greater honor to the lesser member, 25 so that there may be no division in the body, but the members may have mutual concern for one another. 26 If one member suffers, everyone suffers with it. If a member is honored, all rejoice with it. (NET)

Interdependent