The Use Of Gifts.

THE USE OF GIFTS.

Romans 12:6-16.

ROMANS 12:6. Within the church, and for the church, we each have “gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us” (cf. 1 Corinthians 7:7). These are to be used for the benefit of the whole body (1 Corinthians 12:7; 1 Peter 4:10-11).

“Whether prophecy, according to the analogy of THE faith.” Note the definite article. If somebody seems to have a direct word from the Lord into a particular situation, this must be weighed against the Bible (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:3; 1 Corinthians 14:29; 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22; 1 John 4:1).

ROMANS 12:7-8. The rest of this short list is written in short sharp statements:

“Or service, in service; or he that teaches, in teaching; or that exhorts, in exhortation; he that imparts, in simplicity; he that takes the lead, with diligence; he that shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”

“Service” or “ministry” is the same word both for the new order of deacons, and for the ministry of the Word (cf. Acts 6:1-4; cf. 1 Corinthians 12:5).

“Teaching” requires study and preparation, learning how to expound the Word, etc.

“Exhortation” may involve public speaking, but also one-to-one counselling or encouraging, etc. Barnabas was known as ‘the son of consolation’ (cf. Acts 4:36; Acts 9:26-27).

“He that imparts” refers to a giver. This must be done with “simplicity” (cf. Matthew 6:2-4), with generosity, without grudging (cf. 2 Corinthians 9:7), and without an ulterior motive.

“He that takes the lead, with diligence” (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:12; 1 Timothy 5:17). Those who are appointed to positions of leadership in the Church should have already displayed that ability within the home (cf. 1 Timothy 3:4-5; 1 Timothy 3:12).

“He that shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” The face says it all. The Lord is not patronising, or grudging in His mercy towards us, so we should not be like that with others.

In other words, whatever you do, do it well, and do it wholeheartedly as to the Lord.

In Greek, the first clause of ROMANS 12:9 has no verb, so could literally be rendered “love without hypocrisy” or “love unfeigned”. So far in Romans, ‘agape’ has spoken of the love of God toward us (cf. Romans 5:5; Romans 5:8; Romans 8:35; Romans 8:39). But now it is like a title for a song relating to our Christian exercise of agape love (ROMANS 12:9-13), similar to the ode to love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.

Love is “abhorring evil; cleaving to that which is good” (ROMANS 12:9b). The word for “abhor” speaks of someone throwing their hands up in horror and turning away from something detestable. Thus, Christian love ‘hates’ that which is evil (cf. Psalm 97:10!) Just as strong - if not stronger - is the word for “cleave”: Christian love so strongly adheres to good that you might say it is ‘welded’ or ‘glued’ to good!

“In ‘brotherly love’ towards one another ‘kindly affectioned’” (ROMANS 12:10a). This introduces two more love words, and both words are familial. The “affection” spoken of is like the natural tender affection that should exist between family members: after all, we are brethren, and all children of the same heavenly Father (cf. Psalm 133:1)!

“In honour preferring one another” (ROMANS 12:10b). This can be illustrated by the custom of moving ahead of someone to hold the door open for them and letting them pass through first. But that is simply good manners. Within true Christian community it is ‘EACH esteeming EACH OTHER better than themselves’ (cf. Philippians 2:3), and acting accordingly.

Two or three verses back, the Apostle spoke of rulers ruling with ‘diligence’ (cf. ROMANS 12:8). The same noun now makes a second appearance, but this time KJV translates it as ‘business’: “Not slothful in business” (ROMANS 12:11a). For the sake of both clarity and consistency, I prefer to literally render this: “In diligence, not slothful”. This is agape love in action!

This is not so much about workplace ethics; nor even ‘busyness’ in the sense of scurrying about multi-tasking: but rather about fervour in our Christian service: “in Spirit, fervent” (ROMANS 12:11b). Far from quenching the Spirit (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:19), Christian love fans the flame and ‘stirs up the gift’ within each one of us (cf. 2 Timothy 1:6).

And overarching all this, Christian love is not slothful but zealous in “serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11c). We are not our own, we are ‘bought with a price’ (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Christian service is service of Him. He is watching over us, and we honour Him.

“In hope, rejoicing” (ROMANS 12:12a; cf. Romans 5:2). This hope is not nebulous, but is based in the expectation of the Lord’s return (cf. Titus 2:13). It is the confidence that the Lord will complete that which He has begun (cf. Philippians 1:6). The rejoicing is not effervescent, but abiding joy, based in that reality: as such it overrides circumstances (cf. Philippians 4:4).