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Read 1 Corinthians 12
What's your spiritual gift? I've always loved this passage on the body of Christ. There are several things we can learn about spiritual gifts from 1 Corinthians 12. In verses 4-6 we read that different gifts are given out to different Christians. Though these gifts are different, they are all from the Lord. This may sound simple, but it's important to understand this truth. Just as children receiving different Christmas gifts often start to fight and become jealous of what the other child has received, Christians receiving different spiritual gifts can become competitive and envious in the church. Paul reminds Christians that everyone is on the same team and working for the same purpose, which leaves no room for jealousy!
We read on in verse 7 that each Christian gets a gift from the Spirit, and that the purpose of these gifts is to benefit the common good. We are not given spiritual gifts to benefit ourselves, and we are not given spiritual gifts so they can remain unused. We are given these gifts to edify the church. There are so many Christians who fail to use the gift that the Spirit has entrusted to them.
Paul stresses unity many times in this passage. It is God's will and purpose for the different parts of the body to work together in unison to further His kingdom. How many times do we fail to accomplish God's will because we are preoccupied with our own envious and competitive spirits? I am sure all of us at some point have desired a gift that we don't possess. We may wonder why we can't speak like Beth Moore or sing like Natalie Grant. Their gifts are so exciting and have touched so many people! However, we're assured in this passage that all gifts are important and significant parts of the body. Verses 22-23a state, "On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts we think are less honorable we treat with special honor." This is so encouraging to Christians who have more behind-the-scenes gifts such as service. They may not get recognized by others or viewed as the really important and honorable parts of the body, but they are in God's eyes!
I find verse 18 to be the most encouraging verse in the entire chapter. It states, "But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be." This makes me feel so special! God knows you better than you know yourself, and He specifically selected the perfect gift for you...the gift He desired you to have. How encouraging!
If you don't know what your gift is, I would advise you to start praying about it. God wants you to know your spiritual gift, and He will reveal it to you if you ask! A great way to discover your gifting is to start serving in the church. Oftentimes this opens people's eyes to what they are gifted in. You can also ask other Christians who know you well what they think your gift is.
I hope that this passage encourages you to contemplate how you can use your particular gift to build up the body. I also hope that it challenges you to stop envying other Christians' gifts and be content with your own...the gift He chose especially for you.
What a privilege to be part of His body!
