GOD AND
YOUR GIFTS
As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one
another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were,
the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which
God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ,
to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. I Peter 4:10-11
So far in this series we have considered the
accountability factor regarding the use of our time, our money and finally, the
use of our spiritual gifts. When God
created the Body of Christ in Acts 2, it was His purpose for that body to grow
and to project an accurate portrayal of Jesus Christ to the world of men. This growth is to take place both in
quantity and quality. God placed within
that body the elements that would properly facilitate both dimensions of that
growth. Those elements are called
spiritual gifts or spiritual abilities.
The way these spiritual abilities are activated and utilized is through
the members of the Body of Christ.
Every believer receives at least
one spiritual gift at the moment of salvation, “as each one has received” our
text tells us. Every person is important in this thing called ministry. God does not leave the job of building the
Body of Christ to professionals. This
is seen very graphically in I Corinthians 12 where the “each one” concept
is stressed.
“Employ it (your gift) in serving one another.” As you have received the gift, minister or
use that gift toward the building up of others. A body member that is non-functional is non productive. A non productive member means that there is
a void, a lack in the congregation.
The non-function of some members can impair a total ministry. The reason many churches aren’t functioning
efficiently is because some believers feel they are not important. Someone else has to pick up the slack. No one can do your job as well as you. The church needs your ministry
(I Corinthians 12:7). Two things
are necessary in becoming an efficient body member: 1) determine the
nature of your gift and delight in it (Psalm 37:4), and 2) develop that gift.
We must rely on God’s strength to
minister our gift. Speaking gifts are
to be centered in the Word of God and serving gifts are to be ministered
according to God’s ability. This means
that, while gifts can be exercised in the power of our flesh, they will be
effective to the extent that they are energized by God the Holy Spirit. This means also that there will be varying
degrees of effectiveness within the ministry of the gifts. This means that you are not to get up tight
if someone else in the congregation seems to be more effective in the use of
their gift of administration than you are in your gift of administration – or
teaching or whatever gift (Corinthians 12:4-7).
The inevitable result when our gifts are
used properly is that God will be glorified.
And how will this come about? In
Ephesians 3:20-21 we see that - 1) we are HIS people, 2) these are HIS gifts,
3) it is HIS Word that qualifies one to speak, and 4) it is with HIS ability
that we serve.
God has given each of us a
responsibility for which we are personally accountable. Are we concerned enough to pursue an
interest in our great task of building the body? God bless.
Serving Him together,