Everyone has a gift. And everyone has a part. Your gift that God gives you is one that is not for you, but for the strengthening of others. No one person has all the same gifts. We are all given different gifts.
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
And yet I will show you the most excellent way.
Let’s review the gifts that are given for the church:
- Apostles – The sent out ones, in this case often was a special calling, but in the churches, those who had the calling to be sent out as missionaries, evangelists, etc…
- Prophets – The one who speak to men on behalf of God “for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort”
- Teachers – Those who make the Word of God more clear
- Work Miracles – People who pray and regularly see God do miracles
- Gifts of healing – People who pray and regularly see God heal
- Tongue speaking for the church – People who bring words to the church in an unknown language
- Interpreters – Those who hear tongues in other languages and can interpret
If all were apostles and sent out ones, who would disciple and train the people? That’s why we need prophets and teachers. If all were teachers, would we also not benefit from those who have gifts of healing?
Here’s a modern reality. Some of these gifts have been so abused we’ve lost sight of their reality, throwing out the baby with the bath water. But we don’t read that these gifts pass away (more on that soon).
The big issues is that we don’t lose the heart of the message. And that is this
–> Everyone has a place and a part
–> We are to use what is given for the building up and strengthening of others
–> We should eagerly desire the greater gifts, the gifts the help people the most
What is your gift? How is it being used to build up the body of Christ?
Instead of stressing about what your gift is, use what your are good at, your passionate about, and likely there is a gift within that somewhere.