Using gifts

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. – Romans 12.6-8

Part of our marvellous diversity in the body of Christ is that God blesses us with different gifts. Though not having a gift is not any kind of excuse for not exercising our basic Christian responsibility God does bless us with a variety of gifts. Paul writes about this in his communication with the Corinthian believers, but he gives us a taste here.

God gives us gifts by His grace. Our gifts are not something we can take credit for. They are not something we can brag about. Interestingly, the word gift and the word grace come from the same Greek word. We cannot brag about our gifts any more than we can brag about the grace that saves us.

By God’s grace I am a teacher. I know that. Here God says that those who are teachers should use that gift by teaching. The same principle applies to the other gifts – if you have a gift use it as your gift. If God gives you the gift of opening up the mysteries of heaven to others do it by faith. If your gift is serving – serve. If your gift is exhorting – exhort. If your gift is giving – give liberally. If your gift is leadership – do it with diligence. If your gift is mercy – do it cheerfully.

Now of course this does not mean that we have an excuse to only do that for which we are gifted. Just because I am teacher doesn’t mean that I don’t give or show mercy or serve or exhort or whatever. Those are all just part of our Christian life. It is what is expected as we live as living sacrifices.

But we need to use the gifts God gives us. Learn more about them. Develop and practice and use those gifts for the glory of God and for the benefit of the body of Christ.