Understanding and Unwrapping God’s Gifts To You
Romans 12:9-16 (Part 3 of 3)
INTRODUCTION
There is an old fable about some animals that started a school. The school had classes in swimming, flying, and running. The duck was a good swimmer -- but had to drop swimming in order to practice running, at which he was not very good, and soon he was an average swimmer. The rabbit was the good one in running -- but broke his leg while trying to fly.
The eagle was the top one in flying class -- but became waterlogged when he tried to swim. By the end of the school term none of the animals were very good at anything. They had all tried to be something they were not -- and failed to develop their own God-given abilities.
There is a good moral behind the fable. All of us have strengths and weakness. It is important that we do not weaken our areas of strength in our zeal to strengthen our areas of weakness. Our challenge is to accept our uniqueness and develop it to its fullest potential.
You do not have to try to be like someone else. God made you just the way you are -- with your own particular combination of strengths and weaknesses. All He wants you to be is the best you can be.
First, determine what you can do to strengthen yourself spiritually. Then, determine what abilities you have that can be used in the work of the church. Now put them to work. Work on your strengths, not your weaknesses, and start today. God needs you just as you are, if you make up your mind to give Him your very best. (#523)
We saw last week, from Romans 12:3-8, that God has given each of us gifts, talents, and abilities to be used in our service for Him to those around us. We looked in detail at the seven functional (or service) gifts listed there: prophecy, service, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading, and showing mercy. Remember that I said that probably any and every gift you or I have could be placed in one of these seven categories.
Today, we want to consider God’s instructions for using these gifts, and also spend some time seeing how we can discover and unwrap the gifts God has given us -- so we can employ them for building up the church -- the Body of Christ.
One Biblical principle we need to be aware of as we study is that “God does not give us work to do for Him without equipping us to do it.” In her book “The Hiding Place,” Corrie Ten Boom tells of the serenity that God blessed her and her sister with as they struggled to survive the hell of the concentration camps.
Their physical father afforded them strength, too. When asked if he had the grace to die, their father said no; it was not needed yet. He likened the need for power and grace to the need for a train ticket. The ticket is not needed until you get to the train station. In this same way, He believed, God rationed out His grace and power. When you need it, it is there, rarely before then. (#559)
In other words -- whatever God asks us to do -- or to endure -- He gives us the power to do. For example – if you feel God leading you to teach -- then He’ll provide the ability to do it (not without your study and effort, of course. His power doesn’t ever dispense with our responsibility).
Or, if you feel God leading you to speak to a friend about Christ -- then He’ll empower you to do it. You have to take the first step -- to show your willingness to be used, then God’s grace sustains and strengthens you.
God gives us these gifts to enable us to serve one another and to accomplish His purpose of redeeming mankind. Peter tells us: “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1 Peter 4:10)
So, let’s begin by looking at …
1. GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING OUR GIFTS.
It’s in verses 9-15 of Romans 12. These verses obviously contain instructions and advice which every member of the Body of Christ should heed. But consider the possibility that these seven verses have a special significance and application to the seven gifts that Paul has just listed in verses 3-8, with verse 9 applying to the prophet, verse 10 to the servant, verse 11 to the teacher and so on.
For example, look at …
a. VERSE 9: “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.” (Rom 12:9)
The prophets’ main job was to proclaim God’s word. They often, especially the Old Testament Prophets -- exposed and denounced sin. When anyone speaks the truth, he must do so in love. They had to be careful that hate for the sin, did not become hate or harshness for the sinner. And -- they needed to be sincere in their own faith. Frequently, those who strongly denounce sin in others, have a problem with hypocrisy in their own lives. Jonah is a case in point … or Aaron, who spoke against idolatry, and then made the golden calf!
b. VERSE 10 says, “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.” (Rom 12:10)
It is essential for the server to regard others as more important than himself and be loyally devoted to manifest love for his brothers in humble acts of service. The very act of serving is to give preference to others.
What about teachers? We’re told in …
c. VERSE 11: “Not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” (Rom 12:11)
This word “diligent” is the same Greek word Paul uses to tell Timothy: “Study to show yourself approved by God … rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim 2:15) Teachers love to study, they have diligence for details, so they must also be “fervent in spirit,” excited about their teaching, so they don’t put their students to sleep. And, they must keep in mind that they are serving the Lord and are not to draw attention to themselves, but to Him as they teach.
The encouragers need to especially listen to …
d. VERSE 12: “Rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer.” (Rom 12:12)
The ministry of encouragement focuses on hope for the hopeless. That is what encourages and consoles people. They also must persevere amidst trials -- giving helpful counsel to disturbed and troubled souls.
And prayer is a great part of their ministry. If they don’t see much progress in those they’re trying to help, Satan may tempt them to give up both hope for and prayer for them.
They need to persevere in their hope and remain faithful in prayer. This will keep the encourager from becoming discouraged and will also help the counselee -- to know that someone is praying for them. Prayer also helps the encourager to realize his own dependence on God, and not to put more faith in his counseling ability than in God’s power.
What about the giver? Look at …
e. VERSE 13: “Contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.” (Rom 12:13)
He’s encouraged to keep giving, to keep sharing -- to open both his heart and his home to others.
f. VERSE 14 says: “Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not.” (Rom 12:14)
Who gets more guff than the Boss? The leaders naturally get blamed for problems -- they need to have a thick skin -- to know how to take both false (and true) criticism in a Christ-like way -- and to keep serving even those who are critical.
Finally, a word to those who show mercy -- in …
g. VERSE 15: “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” (Rom 12:15)
This is simply sympathy -- feeling together with others -- and, normally the compassionate person finds it easier to weep with others than to rejoice with them, so Paul encourages them to be careful to do both.
2. HE SUMS IT ALL UP …
in verse 16: “Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.” (Rom 12:16)
This is the same thought he opened this service section with in verse 3. We must work together in unity, as a team … a body… not despising or being jealous of the gifts of another.
The mercy-show-er, the giver, and the server work together in supplying physical needs.
The encourager and the teacher work together, using the word of God given by the apostles and prophets, to minister to spiritual needs.
And all work in harmony under the guidance of the leader to accomplish God’s work in this world and to meet the various needs of His people. This is love in action!
John Bisagno tells of a group of coal miners who went to Winston Churchill asking for permission to leave the mines and join the army to fight. They felt they weren’t able to be a part of the action where they were. The next day Churchill addressed 4,000 miners in the Royal Hall. He told them: “Gentlemen, they say Hitler is coming. They say he has 100,000 on the sea, 100,000 on the land, and 100,000 in the air. But I say to you that one day we are going to be victorious over this matter.
And one day we will walk down the streets of London in victory and I will say to a young soldier, ‘Where were you in Britain’s finest hour?’ And he will answer, ‘I was in the trenches with my rifle fulfilling my responsibility, and doing my part for my country.’ And I will say to a wife and mother, ‘Where were you in Britain’s finest hour?’ She will say, ‘I was in a hospital caring for the wounded, fulfilling my responsibility and doing my part for my country.’
And I’ll ask some of you where you were in Britain’s finest hour and you will say, ‘I was down in the pit of the mine with my face against the face of the coal, fulfilling my responsibility, doing my part for my country.’” (#273)
God has given each of us different gifts, and called each of us to different forms of service. Whatever God has called you to do, it is as significant as any other task.
We must each do our part if the church is to victoriously fulfill God’s purpose in this world. Each of us is essential if God’s work is to be done and His church is to grow. Each of us has a contribution to make if the Body of Christ is to be whole and healthy. Together we can be the church of the living God.
III. WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN TO US?
Let’s look at some practical application.
A. HOW CAN YOU DISCOVER YOUR GIFTS?
The first thing necessary is to …
1. LIST THE GIFTS.
A jeweler who would recognize various gems must first become aquatinted with them. This is what I’ve attempted to do in this series. I would also encourage you to take Class 301, “Discovering My Ministry,” when it is offered in June. You likely have more than one gift -- the majority of those we read about in the Scripture did.
Perhaps we have overrated the nature of the gifts by thinking of them as something impressive, something that’ll knock you over, when -- in reality -- they may be quite ordinary. Instead of flamboyant, grandstand abilities they may be silent, steady workings of the Holy Spirit who does not come in earthquake, storm, or wind, but in the still, small voice.
You have gifts -- had some since birth -- you just need to see what they are and use them with a new focus as a Christian. (In this case it may be better to talk about uncovering, rather than discovering, your gifts.)
After a losing football season, the coach of a well-known college team said his plans for the next year were to get back to basics. He was referring to blocking, tackling, timing, and execution, which are the ingredients necessary for a winning season. These are not the exciting aspects of the game. These are not showcased on a cool, crisp weekend in the fall. But these are the elements that are vital to a well-played game. Many Christians are seeking the glamour and excitement of certain bizarre and flashy spiritual gifts.
They are desirous of a continual spiritual high. This is as impossible and impractical as a professional football team playing a regulation game every day of the week. The Christian life contains basics which may be seen as equivalent to blocking, tackling, and execution in football. These spiritual basics are not showy, but they are mandatory for growing Christians, and essential for the church to be the agent of God in transforming our world. (#212)
We listed and described these service gifts last week. That’s the first step. The second step in discovering our gifts is:
2. GO TO WORK!
As we look at these gifts we find that every one of them is commanded of every Christian elsewhere in Scripture. All of us are to serve, all of us are to be encouragers, teachers, givers, etc.
We may not have a gift that makes us especially proficient in one of these areas, but we are commanded by Christ to do them. Then -- as we begin to obey God in these and other spheres of service, the Holy Spirit gradually unveils that we are gifted with special abilities in some areas.
We should expose ourselves to various kinds of Christian service, perhaps first in the area of our natural abilities. Maybe you should try teaching a Sunday School class, leading a youth group, talking to your friend about Christ, singing, visiting the nursing home, or preaching. You may be surprised what God will reveal to you! If you want to know what areas of ministry are available, give our office a call. Any of the staff would be glad to go over it with you.
Satan will try to quench and kill any spiritual gift you may have. He does this primarily by fear and a low self-opinion. Fear disables and paralyzes us. It keeps us from reaching our God-given potentials and renders God powerless to use us.
Someone has said: “To do nothing for fear of making a mistake, is the greatest mistake of all.”
One of the most frequent statements God makes to us in Scripture is: “Fear not -- for I am with you.” The good shepherd is our source of strength and our tower of confidence. Truly -- “we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.” (Phil 4:13)
Emerson gave good advice: “Do the thing you fear to do and soon you’ll cease to fear it.” Don’t let Satan cause you to waste your God-given talents by fear or a lack of self-esteem. If you let Ed know you have an interest in some ministry or service, then we can put you with an experienced person or, in other ways, train you to serve in that area and enable you to feel more comfortable in that ministry.
The third thing to do is …
3. LIST YOUR ABILITIES.
Make a list of all the abilities you know you possess. Can you teach, play ball, cook, build houses, change oil, sew, talk easily to others, etc. List them. Some proficiency in an area may suggest a potential gift.
Next …
4. LIST YOUR INTERESTS.
What kind of activities are you interested in or inclined toward? Just name them -- athletics, reading, babysitting, carpentry, electronics, etc.
A person who has a singing talent finds himself drawn toward singing, and toward people who have that ability.
So it is with our spiritual gifts. Desire and inclination have a lot to do with discovering our personal gifts.
Next …
5. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES.
Think of all the outlets of service and activities you’ve been asked to do and are needed in the church. The fact that you have been asked may have been the Providence of God trying to wake you from your lethargy. Have you been asked to teach, work at the Nursing Home, preach, work in VBS, serve the Lord Supper to shut-ins, sing in the choir, greet guests at our doors? God may be trying to tell you something.
Too many wait for opportunities to come -- but the opportunities for service are here -- they’re all around us everyday. Don’t wait to get in the mood to become involved.
In “Feeling Good, The New Mood Therapy,” David Burns, M.D. writes: “Motivation does not come first, action does! You have to prime the pump. If you wait until you’re ‘in the mood,’ you may wait forever.” When you don’t feel like doing something, you tend to put it off, but it’s often after we get involved in a task that we become highly motivated. (#484)
Avail yourselves of the opportunities -- don’t wait. God wants to use you now!
I’m reminded of the story about John, who was caught in a flood. As the waters rose to the level of his porch, a man came along in a boat to rescue him, but John refused to leave. He said, “No, I will stay here; the Lord will provide.”
The waters kept rising until John was sitting on the roof of his house. Another boat came along, but John refused to budge. Again he said, “No, thank you. The Lord will provide.”
Finally, the waters rose even higher, and John was forced to sit on top of his chimney. A helicopter came by to rescue him, and once again he said, “I’m staying here. The Lord will provide.”
The water continued to rise, and eventually John drowned. As he entered the Pearly Gates, John said to St. Peter, “All my life I was a devout Christian. I prayed to the Lord and kept the faith. Why then did the Lord not save me?”
St. Peter replied, “My son He sent two boats and a helicopter. What more did you want?” (#82)
Don’t wait to serve. God has given you both abilities and opportunities to use them to serve others. Seize the opportunities and use what God has given you.
That leads us to the sixth point in discovering your gifts.
6. LIST THE NEEDS YOU SPOT.
List all the needs in the church and in our community that need to be met and are not. The ability to be sensitive to and see those needs may be indicative that you have gifts related to them. You see a hurting member of our family and you say to yourself, “Why doesn’t somebody do something about this?” Maybe you need to realize that you are somebody. God may have opened your eyes to that particular need because He wants you to be the one to minister to it.
Still another help is to …
7. LISTEN TO OTHERS.
This is an excellent way to learn of your gifts, because others can often easier spot our talents than we can. This may be the crowning confirmation that we have a gift. What have others said you are good at doing, what have others urged you to do, what things that you have done caused others to be helped, edified,and encouraged? Finally …
8. WHAT SATISFIES YOU?
This is what one fellow calls the “Eureka” principle. (Finley Edge) Think of those avenues of service which satisfy you the most, which are a pure delight in doing.
You may have a gift that is especially helpful in that type of service. Maybe it’s visiting or cooking or teaching, studying, working with your hands, carpentry, etc.
When a person realizes their gifts they may well feel like exclaiming, “Eureka, I’ve found it.” It’s a delightful, satisfying, and pleasing thing. The areas which satisfy you most now may be those in which God has given you a special gift.
Now, as you list things under each of these eight headings, see which things occur most often. I have a few things that occurred under all eight categories. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if those aren’t connected with your gifts. Once discovered, we must concern ourselves with …
B. DEVELOPING OUR ABILITIES.
Are you dedicated to using those gifts to meet needs as Jesus was? That’s the important beginning place. You might say “But I don’t have the faith to use my gifts.” That’s not true. Look at Romans 12:3: “God has given us the exact amount of faith to use the gifts we have.”
Paul is not talking about saving faith in verse 3, but about serving faith. Serving faith is trust that is big enough to use our abilities. God has not only given us gifts, but He has also given us the faith needed to use our gifts.
Isn’t that great? If we had less serving faith that the gift called for, we would be frustrated. But, if we had more serving faith than the gift called for, we wouldn’t be satisfied with our gift. God has given us just the measure of serving faith necessary to use our gifts. We shouldn’t seek a faith big enough to move mountains until we have a faith big enough to move us.
The existence of a gift is a call to exercise it. Eyes are purposeless unless they exercise the function of sight. Paul advised Timothy, “Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you.” (1 Tim 4:14) And he continues in the next verse: “Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to all.” (1 Tim 4:15)
Disuse of a limb results in paralysis or atrophy -- so doctors order their patients up soon after surgery. Similarly, in our spiritual life -- exercise is the only way to prevent a gift’s lapse or collapse.
John Sanford understands this when he tells a story about an old well on the family farm in New Hampshire. Over the years the well had supplied the family with water for all their needs.
It was unusually cold and pure -- a great joy to drink, and the well never ran dry. Even in times of drought, the well could be counted on to yield cool, refreshing water. As happens so often, the family gained a modicum of affluence.
They modernized the house. Electricity replaced the kerosene lamps. An electric stove replaced the kerosene burner and modern plumbing and running water was installed.
They had to drill a modern well, a deep artesian well. No longer needed, the old well was boarded up and sealed over and kept in reserve in case the artesian well was not enough. Years later, Sanford decided to visit back home to uncover the old well and inspect its conditions. When he removed the cover he expected the same dark, cool water to flow as it always had. But he was in for a shock. The well was bone dry. (#142)
Again, the principle of Christ concerning our gifts: Use them or lose them. So …
C. WHAT CAN YOU DO?
This stewardship of our gifts and talents involves wisdom and self-discipline in evaluation, development, and involvement. What can you do to use your gifts and to fulfill your ministry? Our office has available a “Commitment to Ministry” Brochure that lists all the various ministries in the church. That would be one place to start. We also will occasionally have ministry opportunities in the bulletin, in the newsletter, or announce them from the pulpit.
Please remember, beloved, God holds us accountable to discover, develop, and deploy all the gifts He has given us.
Who is the faithful and wise steward among us? No one is exempt. Teenagers aren’t. Paul told young Timothy: “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe…. Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you.” (1 Tim 4:12,14)
The aged aren’t. Look at what God did through octogenarians like Moses and Caleb. Remember -- many of these “gifts” are also clear-cut commands. We are all to serve, to give, to evangelize, to teach, etc. Just because we are not gifted in an area does not mean we are exempt from service in that area. In fact, Christian maturity comes as we grow in each of these areas. I want to encourage you to discover, develop and use your gifts in ministering to the needs of others.
If you’re here this morning and are not yet a Christian, I would like to encourage you to decide today to give your life to Christ. God has many gifts that He wants to give you -- and the first gift is the gift of eternal life. He wants to give you a life of purpose, of meaning, of satisfaction. It all begins by putting your faith and trust in Christ.
