God has given each of us gifts or abilities. Consider the gifts listed in Romans 12:6-8 “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” God has blessed each of us with certain natural gifts or abilities. God also allows our experiences in life to shape our knowledge and abilities and to give us new abilities. It is by the grace of God that we are what we are today.
We do not have the same gifts; we are different. Parents that have more than one child see the differences in their children. One child may be athletic and the next artistic and the next good in mathematics. Each child has different gifts and abilities. In the same way, in the church, each member has different gifts and abilities. A person may have multiple gifts but one or more gifts usually dominated. We were not alike. And that is the point that is being made in Romans 12. We are members of the one body of Christ, but all the members do not have the same function, ability or gift. We need each other to have a healthy, functioning body.
Let us look at the gifts listed in Romans 12. The first gift is prophecy. We may think of prophecy as the ability to foretell the future. But prophecy merely signifies the speaking forth of the mind and counsel of God. As such, a prophet today may be one who is very knowledgeable about the scriptures and attempts to know the mind and counsel of God on every topic or in every situation. The prophets of Israel and Judah often saw the failings of the people and warned them of coming judgement if they didn’t repent. One with the gift of prophecy may also be one to see shortcomings or sins and proclaim the necessity for repentance.
The next gift after prophesy is ministry. The word ministry literally means service. We all should serve one another. Galatians 5:13 “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Even though we should all serve one another, I believe there are people in the church today with the gift of service. They excel in service to others and they enjoy serving.
Then there is the gift of teaching. Some people have the gift to teach others the principles and commands and truths of God in a way that is interesting and understandable. We love to hear them teach and we learn so much from them. But not everyone should be a teacher. James 3:1 “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.” Not everyone excels in the ability to teach and to edify the body.
Next, there are those who are exhorters. They encourage others to be the people they need to be. Perhaps they are patting people on the back and telling them words they need to hear to succeed or perhaps they are admonishing others to be zealous for good works. We all should exhort one another. Hebrews 3:12-13 “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” While we should all exhort one another, there are those who excel at exhortation.
Next are the givers; these are those who see the needs of others and liberally give of what they have to meet the needs. When they run across a new item or resource, they instantly think of those who could use and benefit from that item or resource. All of us should be givers. Jesus taught in Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” While all of us should be givers, there are those who excel at giving; they liberally give what they have to others.
Next are the leaders. In a group of people, the leaders are those who want to take charge and show the way to go. They may direct each participant in what part they should play or else they may lead by example and be at the forefront of any effort. To be a good leader, one must see what needs to be done and the best way to do it; such a one also needs the respect and confidence of others. Not everyone is a leader. Some are followers. Both are important.
Finally, there are the merciful. They see the pain or the weaknesses in other people’s lives and, rather than being judgmental, they offer mercy and comfort. They empathize and sympathize with the weak and needy. We all should be merciful, because God has been merciful to each of us. Jesus taught in Luke 6: 36 “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” While all of us should be merciful, there are those who cheerfully excel in being merciful.
Our passage in Romans 12 encourages us to use whatever gift God has given us. We don’t want to be unprofitable servants (Matthew 25:30) by not using our gifts. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, the apostle describes the church as one body with many members. We may be hands, eyes, or feet in the body. Just because we serve a different function or have a different gift, we should not say that we are not needed. As different members with different gifts, we need each other and we should work together using our different gifts.
I believe that the list of gifts given by the apostle Paul is not an exhaustive list. Praise God for whatever gift or ability that He has given you. What do you see as your primary gift? Do you see the gifts of your brothers and sisters in Christ? I encourage you to value the gifts that they have which are different from yours. We need each other with our different gifts to have a healthy, functioning body. I encourage you to cheerfully use your gifts for the benefit of the body and for the glory of the Lord.