Feature
Features
Integrity

Your Body: The Liver

True Ministry

Don’t Neglect Your Gift

Searching for Your Self-Worth


Guys
From the Editor

A Hunger To Serve

M.A.P.? What M.A.P.? What is that?

Semper Fidelis: Always Faithful

How to Be A Gentleman

A Book Review

How to be a Christian Father

Servants and Guards

Husband: The High Calling of God


Gals
From the Editor

Fellowship of Service

Who, Me? Serve?

Mentoring

The Role of Christian Women in Paul’s Day

Elizabeth: A Woman of Faith

Shopping for Modesty in Egypt



Don’t Neglect Your Gift
By Jeff Reed

Spiritual gifts are given to believers when they receive God’s Holy Spirit. It is evident in I Corinthians 12 that spiritual gifts are given to every single Christian. This is accomplished through the laying on of hands after baptism. This is witnessed to in I Timothy 4:14 where Paul instructs Timothy, “Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.” In this passage it is emphasized that spiritual gifts should not be neglected.

If you are a Christian and are not sure what your gift is, it is most likely because you are neglecting it. What if Michelangelo had never painted or sculpted anything? The talent would have surely been in him, but no one would have ever known it, including himself.

I have encountered many in the Church who weren’t sure if they had any gifts and if they did, they weren’t sure what they were. Paul writes,
To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines (I Corinthians 12: 8-11).
It is evident from reading this there are many different spiritual gifts and God gives them to everyone in the Church.

Read the entire chapter. Paul goes on to describe how every member in the Church works together as one body. He uses the analogy of an actual human body. Just as the parts of our body are dependant on every other part to function as a whole, so is the body of Christ, the Church. It is emphasized that no one is less significant than anyone else in service to the Church. No matter your gender, education or social status, your contribution to the Church is very important.

This model has everyone with their different talents working together to achieve one goal. That goal is clearly defined for us, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:10-20). It is simply taking the gospel to the world.

Since it is evident everyone in the Church has gifts and that God uses those gifts for His purpose, how can we become aware of what the gifts are?
Tips For Using Your Spiritual Gifts
Use your gifts to help build up the church, Christ’s body.
“So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
(Romans 12:5)

Understand that one spiritual gift is not better than another. They are all equally important.
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.”
(1 Corinthians 12:4)

Stay close to Jesus.
“No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”
(John 15:4)

Be humble about your gifts. Don’t flaunt them about or be arrogant about them.
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.”
(1 Corinthians 13:1)

Be happy with the gifts God has given you.
“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”
(1 Peter 4:10)

There are several ways we can discover the talents God has given us and they all require action.
  1. If someone in the Church asks you to do something, don’t be afraid to say “yes.” It may be something you think you have no skills for. No matter how small or big the task may seem, if someone is looking to you for help, they think you are capable of doing the job. You will never know your gift if you never make an attempt. Say “yes” to enough people and you will quickly learn where your gifts lie. Then you will be able to focus your talents and time.
  2. If you see a need in the Church, volunteer to fill it. You may not think you are capable of doing the job. Most of us tend to underestimate our abilities. You will be surprised at what God has made you capable of achieving. Don’t be disappointed if others don’t see the need and turn your offer down. Just be ready to volunteer. More often than not, people are always happy when others are willing to donate their time and service.
  3. Find an individual who can be your mentor. In God’s Church there are plenty of people who excel at using their gifts. Offer to help someone who does a lot for the Church. I can’t think of anyone who isn’t willing to accept someone’s offer for assistance. By helping them you will have the opportunity to discover and grow in the abilities God has given you.
  4. The key to learning your gifts is simple: “just do something!” God wants your service. He actually requires it. Read the parable of the talents in Matthew 25 and you will see what God expects of his servants. When you serve the Church, you serve Him. This is a very important facet of our spiritual growth. Using what God has given you can be very fulfilling. So don’t neglect your gift, be ready and willing to use it. (click here for ideas). i