We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. – Romans 12:6-8 (NIV)
I was reading this passage recently and I began to really notice the warnings that are embedded into this verse that discusses our spiritual gifts. The Apostle Paul is not just listing gifts and encouraging us to go do them. He is warning us: with every ability comes the possibility that we could misuse that with which God has blessed us. So we must be good and faithful stewards of these gifts and do our best to operate in them with the utmost respect for the Giver of the Gifts and His intentions for them.
It seems there are three overarching points being made in today’s scripture. When operating in our giftedness, we must be careful to 1.) function according to our faith, 2.) actually do what God is giving us to do, and 3.) have the right heart and attitude about our service to the Lord.
The first gift discussed here is the gift of prophesying. Paul reminds prophets to do their duty in accordance to their faith. They’re not to add to or take away from that which God is leading them to say. It is God who should be speaking, not them. It might be easy, in their position, to want to add their own little tips or points…I mean, hey, who couldn’t use some good, practical advice? Right? But that’s not what they’re supposed to be doing when operating in this gift. They are but a tool used by the Lord to communicate His message. Prophets are to carefully disseminate the Words of God according to their ability to understand what it is He is entrusting them to share. No more. No less.
Likewise, this could apply to other gifts as well. We all must operate within the boundaries of our faith. We must take care to only do what we feel God is leading us to do. There are some things that seem perfectly good and right, but yet, in certain situations, they could be totally wrong. Here’s an example of what I mean. Let’s say a poor person continually asks a giver for money and the giver just keeps on giving it without seeking God’s counsel. In this case, the giver could be actually hurting the person by allowing them to live in an entitlement mindset. If the poor person’s needs are being met by the giver, they may never learn to seek God for their provision. This would be an atrocity. But had the giver checked with God first, they may have found the Lord leading them to give, not of their finances, but of their heart, showing love, spending time with this person, etc. But the giver in this case probably doesn’t hear God’s instructions because he’s too busy doing his own thing—outside of his faith, outside of prayerful consideration. It’s only service to God if it is something God is asking you to do.
The second point of this verse basically tells us, if we’re given a gift, we need to remember to use it! (“…if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement…”) How many times are we given the opportunity to use our gifts but we dismiss it because the timing is inconvenient or we’re not paying attention to the inner voice that is leading us to do the things that are right in front of us to do? God has implanted something special inside of all of us, but gifts left in boxes under the tree on Christmas morning are useless. We may as well not even have them if we don’t use them. We need to be reminded to open up our gifts and to use them generously as God leads.
Sometimes an encourager will fail to encourage because it’s not comfortable. Let’s say an encourager sees someone on a crowded bus…maybe the person is dirty or crazy-looking…and God implants a word for the encourager to speak to this stranger. Just because you’re an encourager, it doesn’t mean you’re totally comfortable encouraging everyone in every place that God asks you to. You can imagine the inner conversation that could be going on in the head of an encourager in the aforementioned situation, “God, really? I don’t even know that guy. What if he’s crazy and he freaks out on me? And what about all these other people around us? They’re all going to be watching and maybe listening. I don’t want to look like a weirdo. Can I just wait until a few of these people get off the bus first?”
Essentially, Paul says, if you have a gift, give it. If you feel God leading you to use your gift, regardless natural circumstances, do it anyway. When God asks us to do something, there can be hundreds of splintering effects…results from our actions…that we may never even know about. Take the bus situation. The person God is asking you to encourage may receive a word that could change his or her life. Now, they may choose NOT to go home and commit suicide. Now you’ve given their children back their parent, their spouse back their mate, you’ve allowed another child they haven’t yet had to be born and to become the next President of the United States. Someone else on the bus sees you doing this uncomfortable thing and they become inspired to step out of their comfort zone, and they begin to bless others, regardless of location or comfort. Someone sees them and makes the same decision. Before you know it, you’ve started an encouragement revolution and you won’t even know it until you get to Heaven.
Do you see what I’m saying? God has given you gifts for HIS purposes. You may not always see what it is He’s doing, but, trust me, He can do a million different things with one obedient action. He asks you to open up your gifts regardless of any natural diversions or circumstances.
And, finally, the last part of this scripture talks about the condition of your heart. It’s not just about using your gifts, it’s about the heart and attitude you have when you use them. (…if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully…) In last part of the seventh verse of I Samuel 16, God tells Samuel, “…For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
It’s that inner person of the heart that God is most concerned with. We can show mercy, but fail to do so cheerfully. Let’s say some kid down the street beats the living daylights out of our kid. Now, we can show mercy and not press charges. But, will our mercy allow us to pray for that attacker? The next time we see them, will we treat the child with contempt or will we show them the love of Christ? Can we see that kid walking down the street as we’re driving our cars and not mentally imagine running them over? (Oh, come on. Don’t act like you never had a terrible thought like that!) When you’re being truly merciful, take care to do so cheerfully, knowing it’s not about that kid down the street, but it’s about being pleasing to God.
Whatever your gift, God wants you to use it with a right heart. If you’re giving, don’t do it out of pity. Do it out of the abundance that God has given you and don’t forget to give God ALL the glory for the giving. Maybe do it in secret, so you’re not tempted to take any of the glory for yourself. Prophesying can be a very glorious calling; so be careful when operating in this gift, to ensure you are returning any glory that people may be placing upon you and you’re making it a daily offering unto the Lord, knowing you are only able to do what He has enabled you to do. Leaders, don’t get hung up on title or position. Carefully persevere to be an example of Christ through living with integrity, being accountable, and serving those you lead—just as Jesus did.
In closing, I encourage each and every person to step out into your calling with the most humble and noble attitude possible—remembering, the more He gives us, the more careful we must be to constantly seek His guidance. Operate in the unique giftedness God has given you with excellence and honor, and always remember to give all the Glory to the Giver of the Gifts. Without Him, we are nothing.
Pray and ask God how you can use your spiritual gifts to be a blessing to someone today.
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