By: Jeremy BerryIt was Christmas morning and I wanted to do what every healthy, warm-blooded American dad wants to do on that magical day. I wanted to test my kids’ faithfulness. My wife and I spent the night wrapping up all the gifts and gadgets that would be ripped open to the delight of our three-year-old daughter. Our son, Maddox, was still eating wrapping paper and more excited for the boxes than the toys packaged within. Knowing that the excitement for getting some craft or doll was on the forefront of my daughter’s mind, the environment was right to give her a test. I had watched videos of children throwing fits and screaming at their parents for the unjust act of getting socks or underwear (presents that I, as an older man, love). Would Claire fall to the same behavior as these spoiled kids? Would my failure as a parent be exposed to the rest of the family? We would all find out with the very first gift. I handed it to her, slightly nervous. This could either be a great memory or I could ruin Christmas and make things very awkward. Her face lit up! She tore through the wrapping paper like a small, cute jackal. As she got to small white box, her imagination ran wild with what it could be. I sat back with an uneasy smile, praying, “God let my child not act like a brat…”, yet putting on the face of confidence that this was a great decision. Finally, she pulled out her present…a potato. With everyone looking, some rolling their eyes at my direction, Claire looked at her starchy surprise with wonder.
“Oh, I love it! Thank you!” She said followed by a sincere question, “What is it?”
Her response to her father’s gift is where I think most of us are when we think of spiritual gifts. It is slightly confused, perplexed even thinking, “What is this spiritual gift thing?” Like Claire, we might even say, “Thank you, Dad…but what do I do with it?” There is a lot of confusion, disagreement and even just bad teaching surrounding the idea of spiritual gifting.
The confusion on gifts is understandable. There are so many traditions, teachings and thoughts on the topic. Some claim that certain gifts have ceased. They deny that tongues, healing, or those gifts that appear to be more supernatural no longer remain. This group is called cessantionists. Now, I do not agree, and it’s fine…it’s orthodox. Not my cup of tea, but for those who drink it, I know it’s not poison. Then there are those who are in the opposite camp, they see these gifts as still existent and used within the church, though limited in the way scripture limits. They too have a fancy name; it is continuationists. Again, not ALL brands of this are poison. For the record, if you’re curious, I do think the Pentecostal, charismatic movement that demands such gifts as a sign of regeneration is heretical and dangerous. That’s not really the point of this article. There are slews of articles dealing with those and I have no desire to cover already well-covered ground. Rather, the question that is most posed to me is not about these theological variations is more practical. These questions are within the same vein as the one my daughter asked about the potato: What is it and what am I supposed to do with it?
QUESTION 1 - WHAT IS IT?
To answer this question, let us deal with some confusion that makes the question less difficult. Most simply, people want to know what their gifts are, and this desire creates a desperation to discover. In other words, “What’s on the menu?!” Of course, where do we go to find out? Is there a catalog we can choose from? Sadly not, so we handle it the way we handle every other unknown in our lives…we google it. Naturally our googling of gifts will lead us to a series of online tests, that claim to reveal accurately how the Holy Spirit has gifted you. Who knew that an algorithm could tell you exactly the workings of God?! Let me be clear, and I know it may hurt to hear, but I actually despise these online tests for two reasons.
The test presumes you are self-aware.
I look in the mirror the least of anyone I know but despite my lack of self-time, I thought I knew what I looked like. In my mind I saw the 18 to 21-year-old fella that I used to be. Sure, my clothes were SLIGHTLY bigger but basically, I looked the same…right? Two children and 13 years of marriage later, that came crashing down when I saw a picture of myself. I truly was amazed at how overweight I had become. I looked at the picture and back down at my belly…I just didn’t see it! I ran to a mirror to find that the picture was right.
Now this is not just my story. Many of us out there are very unaware of how we look (just go to a beach to see what I mean). Our collective lack of awareness of “self” is not just physical, but also spiritual and emotional. Often times we are unable to diagnose root causes of sin or even what really makes us happy. An online test assumes that the individual knows their greatest weaknesses and strengths. The reality is that this is not the case. Have you ever heard someone who thought they were gifted with good voice? They should be able to hear themselves, right? There is, for some of us, a spiritual delusion where we see ourselves as something we are not. I am not saying that you cannot know where you are gifted or that these tests are evil. I suppose I am telling you to be wary and maybe consult beyond the online test offered to you by google.
The test presumes an exhaustive list
The person creating the test is starting with a theological position (several actually). Primarily the position is that all of the giftings are listed in scripture. I think the misconception is that scripture has this one list that these online test use. Truth is there are a few different lists. Romans 12:6-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 give lists, and it should be noted that the lists are not the same. The lists given by Paul in both letters, were not meant to be a listing of every gift available. If it were, then Paul would have given ONE EXACT list. Trick is…he didn’t. Paul was giving examples of different gifts that exist.
How can I know my gift? First, read scripture and look at some of the gifts mentioned. Also, speak to those who know you (rather than trusting in a website’s algorithm) and see what/where you desire to serve the body out of your love of the Lord. But, Christian, you have been renewed, so the desires of your heart that ARE FUELED BY LOVE OF GOD, will lead you to the gifts you have been given.
The second area of confusion that makes this topic difficult is that we have a tendency to rate gifts. We sit as judges on Christians’ Got Talent, assessing at what giftings are the greatest. I cannot tell you how many times I have had to sit with individuals who are jealous of another’s gifts. The frustration seems to be a holy one, but inevitably it is selfish and dissatisfied. They want the VIP Gifts of the Spirit.
Like the spoiled child we are, we are often unsatisfied with the gift that a good, loving, omniscient God gave us. We may not throw a fit and scream “INJUSTICE” but we do something kind of worse. Our discontent is masked in a pseudo-holiness. I have heard, and have uttered myself, a desire for other gifts so I can “make a bigger impact on the kingdom.” Not only does such discontent reveal a distrust and a lack of thankfulness for what God has given us, unwilling to ponder why God gave you such a gift (and held back others), but what lies beneath that dissatisfaction is the desire to feel more important. The reality check is this: Your gift is not about you.
Scripture tells us a few very important truths about spiritual gifts.
4 “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.”…11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. (1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 11)
What is clear is that gifts come by the Holy Spirit, that they are empowered by the Holy Spirit and that He gives gifts as He desires. How the Lord gives gifts is for His glory and our good. That is not to sound like Ben Shapiro. I am not saying, “God doesn’t care about your feelings” because that’s not the case either. What He doesn’t care about is your desire to use God’s gifts for your own ambition or status within the church. For the gifts are not about the glory of you or me, but the Lord God. Furthermore, Paul writes:
14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
What is clear is that the body of Christ, that is the Church, is diverse in its gifts. The purpose of using the body as an illustration to show both that your purpose is not to serve the self but to serve the whole and that each person is in some way dependent on one another for the mission. Scripture does not indicate that you will always have the same gifts. The Lord may give you a gift, and later take it away only to replace it for what the body needs. Again, He gives gifts for His glory and our good.
Now let’s return back to this idea of VIP gifts that we so long for and want. Here is what Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:1-8;13.
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away…13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Love is the greatest gift that Christians have been given. This is not a self-serving love, nor a sexual love or even the gift to make someone feel accepted. The gift of love is a Christ-exalting love that is self-sacrificial for the sake of another’s edification. It is a willingness to spend my limited time to invest in others. It is to love Jesus and the mission more than my bank account. It is to love the church and being willing to serve and sacrifice for its good. It is to speak truth lovingly and kindly when you know that flattery would tickle more ears. In fact, look at how this supernatural love manifests itself between Christians. Now when I point this out to many people, the eye rolling almost sends them off their seat. When I point them to this text, it almost seems like the greatest Jesus Juke of all. I am not saying we should not be worried about other gifts, but when Scripture clearly states what the greatest gift is…I can’t but help ask, why do so many feel that it’s lame? The “lameness” of love is that the gift doesn’t feel like a superpower I suppose. I mean…can’t anyone love? Well, that answer is no. Most are unable to share a gospel-centered, Christ-exalting love. It is a gift that the lost world does not have. The unregenerate do not and cannot understand REAL LOVE apart from the gospel. If it is a gift of the Spirit, then one must have the Spirit to have this gift.
As you search your gift, remember that Scripture has already told you, if you’re a Christian, you have been given a gift to love. It is a gift that it is most often quenched because it is sacrificial. Where we seek the VIP gifts to inflate our ego, we are called to share the gift of love, which by its nature is sacrificial, humbling, and requires us to deny ourselves for the sake and care of others.
So what is it? What are these gifts? They are components of the Christian life that are given to you by God, for the benefit of the Church. These gifts change, they grow, they become more obvious. Talk to those who know you, talk to your pastors, evaluate yourself and most of all, pray and consult scripture. Until your gifts are clear to you, mobilize your greatest gift – love.
QUESTION 2 - WHAT DO I DO WITH IT?
Now I almost didn’t put this section into the blog. I mean…isn’t it obvious what you should do? But then I sat back and thought…no, I suppose it isn’t. For example, let’s say you determine that your gift is administration (a gift I covet). Now how are you supposed to use this for the body. Yes, you may use it at work, but your spiritual gifts do not exist for your advancement in the marketplace. These gifts are there FOR THE BODY, so what do we do? Sure, a gift of hospitality may be easy to implement. We open our homes for small groups or for women’s groups, to evangelize, to disciple…you get it. BUT administration? That’s much harder. As a pastor of a church, it is what I and other pastors would love to see you do.
Be Vocal
First, I long for those who are gifted in administration so if you are reading this and attend New Heights Church, let’s chat. The best place you can start is telling pastors or leaders what your giftings are and volunteering the gift that God gave you for the body, to be used FOR THE BODY. Now with that exhortation to be vocal, be equally patient. It may take time, but God made you as part of the body for a reason. Sadly, much of the Church spends its days hiding from volunteering or from real sacrifice. When asked to join a team, it often feels like the mentality is, “How can I serve expending the least amount of time and energy?” Too often it does not include one’s giftings in a way that will cause sacrifice. So, dear reader, if you haven’t done so already (male or female), be vocal about your gifts. We need you and you need us. It is by God’s design. Whatever your gift is, let it be known and express interest. Not to sound like Sir Mix-A-Lot, but with this advice, there is a big but.
Be Faithful
Let me tell you the story of a woman who was very vocal about her gifts, but she was never utilized because she lacked faithfulness. She came to me and expressed a deep and real desire for women’s ministry. She also was going to help clean the church and well…the list went on of all she wanted to do. But what really got me excited was her desire for women’s ministry. It was a need we had for sure. Jane (that’s what we will call her) told me all of her credentials. Now this was perfect timing because we were trying to establish a better avenue for discipling women and teaching women to teach others (Titus 2). I got to know Jane and I trusted her with teaching a text to the group. But as weeks went by and the women were meeting, I realized she never went. Jane never attended the Bible study she desperately wanted to lead. In fact, Jane never showed up to serve anywhere she had volunteered. When time came for her to teach, she canceled. I filled her spot and we moved on. Jane sadly ended up leaving because she said, “you didn’t use me, and I want to go where I can serve.” To be honest, I was really frustrated. Actually, I was down-right mad. I ranted out loud on what I really wanted to say and what I should have said. That is, you can be vocal and passionate all day long but unless you are PRESENT AND FAITHFUL, your gifts will not be utilized. Side note, if you want to lead a team, it is good for a leader to be a part of the body, even when they do not have the microphone – but I digress. Every pastor, every team lead desires someone who is passionate, but what good is passion if you’re not present.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t also add a small second part to this. That is, while you are searching out your gifts, be faithful to being in community. You may struggle to know your gift, thus making it difficult to be vocal. While you are searching this out, be faithful, the area in which you are needed may be in front of you, it may reveal itself within your faithfulness. Faithfulness to the body will show its deficiency and needs.
Be Loving
Okay, so you have committed to being faithful. You are willing to be vocal when you figure out your gifts. But again, let us go back to what scripture tells us – be loving. To love your church is to give and sacrifice for it. It is the gift that keeps on giving because we are giving out of a motive and a posture of worship to Christ our Lord. We love the church because He first loved us. We are our brother’s keeper. Do not neglect your God’s command to lovingly DISCIPLE. That is out of a worshipful heart, you want to help others to love Jesus better for their good and God’s glory. EVERY Christian is called to do that. Do not neglect your God’s command to lovingly EVANGELIZE. That is to share the good news to the lost, for their good and God’s glory. EVERY Christian is called to do that. Do not neglect to gather together, worship with one another, building each other up, praying for another because you want to see their relationship and witness grow, for their good and God’s glory.
The gift of love is supreme, but it is tiresome and costly. When we love well, we will grieve hard. When we love well, we will be invested. When we love well, THEN and only then, we will serve well, which is the purpose of any gift you receive from our gracious God.