Gifts

1 Corinthians 12:7-18 (ESV)

7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - Jews or Greeks, slaves or free - and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

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, "Becuase 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.

One of the most common questions concerning gifting would be, whether the gift is from God, or is it just mere talent or passion. Many of us would like to possess certain gifts, and along the way we convinced ourselves that we do have such gifts. But are they real, or just our well-intentioned desires? One way to distinguish is the affirmation of the church, i.e. fellow brothers- and sisters-in-Christ. This is simply because at times others see us better than we see ourselves.


As I read the Scripture passage above, three questions came into my mind:

1. Are we aware of what are our gifts? (Identification) Living in the secular world could have blinded us that we failed to see our gifts, or we misidentified our gifts. Those who could write, may not have the time to write and hence the gift is suppressed. Those who could extend warm hospitality to others may forget how to do so because life in itself is too demanding already without having to take care of others. So we missed our gifts, or we deceive ourselves into thinking that we don't have one, or we choose to have convenient gifts, if there is ever such a thing.
2. Are we using the gifts for the common good? (Commitment) In this world and these times, it is every man for himself. How many of us thought of others first when we receive our paycheque every month? How many of us use the resources which we are being blessed with to help others first, before satisfying ourselves? I am equally guilty.
3. Are we uplifting each other as we use our gifts? (Encouragement) Reality TV and our urban culture could have drilled some of us into perceiving judging and criticizing as cool. Constructive feedback and critique is the way for improvement and a better society, not demeaning and putting others down. As we use our gifts, others should feel motivated, not discouraged. As we give comments and feedback, others should see the opportunities for excellence, not feel belittled.

So as we ponder upon our gifts, let us remember 1 Corinthians 12:7. For a more professional view on spiritual gifts, click here .