The Gifts Go On

Now, since all Christians have a spiritual gift, it means that at least one gift is bestowed at conversion, when someone becomes a Christian. That doesn't mean the Lord can't give someone additional gifts as time goes on. Maybe someone starts off with one gift, and then ten years later has three. Nor do I think that spiritual gifts are necessarily permanent, that once you have a gift, you will always have it. I don't believe the Bible speaks either way on this question, but if there is a special need of some type, I see no reason why the Holy Spirit cannot give a gift to someone for a period of time and then remove it. Thus, I think it is at least possible that someone could not only have more gifts, but could have different ones than he or she did ten years ago. Remember, it is His job to distribute the gifts as He wills. Again this is my opinion, not something I want to fight over.

3) What is the difference between a spiritual gift and a natural talent? That is not an easy question to answer. I think it would be a mistake to say either that there is no distinction, or to see the two as totally disconnected. Spiritual gifts are possessed only by those who are believers in Christ and are indwelt by God's Spirit. Before someone becomes a Christian, I don't think they can have a spiritual gift. For example, the vice president of a local bank may have some very obvious abilities as an administrator, but if he is not a Christian, I don't think he possesses the gifts of administration that Paul refers to in Verse 28. Or, take a student with a straight-A average and an IQ of 150. Her intelligence is certainly God-given, talent on loan from God as someone might say, but if she is not a believer in Jesus, it is not a spiritual gift.

At the same time, I tend to think many spiritual gifts enhance a natural talent or ability. Consider what I do up here every Sunday morning. Some folks claim I have the gift of prophecy that Paul is talking about in 1 Corinthians 12; others call it a gift of preaching, and I tend to think it might be very close to the gift of teaching which Paul refers to in Verse 28. Whatever label is used, I think I have some God-given, natural talent in this area. I started giving speeches when I was twelve years old in 4-H Club. In high school I always did very well in forensics. My specialty was extemporary speaking, where you are given a topic and then an hour later give an eight-minute speech on that issue. Yet, I know there is something different about what I now do on Sunday mornings. I believe the Holy Spirit has enhanced my abilities to communicate and connect with people's minds and hearts, and that it is the spiritual gift of teaching which enables me to be an effective teacher. Spiritual gifts are more than natural talents, but it would be silly to assume the two are not connected, since God is the source of both.

4) OK, another question people ask is: What am I supposed to do? First, identify your gifts; figure out what you think they are. A good place to start is by examining your own life, talking to friends and others who know you, and determining what abilities and aptitudes you have which can be used in serving the Lord. Pray that God would help you correctly identify what your gifts are. Use the New Testament lists of gifts to stimulate your thinking as to what they might be, but again I don't think you have to limit your gifts to that. Different groups have come up with diagnostic tools and tests designed to help people figure out what their gifts are. If you think that would be helpful, let me know and we will try to find that for you. When someone asks, "What are your spiritual gifts?" I think we should have an answer of some type. We may not be able to rattle off three or four things, but we should be able to at least identify what our gifts might be.