Gifts

I think sometimes I avoid the topic of spiritual gifts. People seem to have different ideas about them, and I don't know what to think about them. Plus, they aren't generally tangible things like you might receive for your birthday.

Although, my sister, Kelsey, claims to have the spiritual gift of buying slushies for people. I haven't seen that one listed anywhere, although it could, in rare circumstances, fall into the broader gift of contributing to the needs of others (Romans 12:8).

Today, though, I was reading in the beginning of 1 Corinthians and I came across 1.7 which says, "Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed." One thing I have wondered about is whether people can have only one or a couple spiritual gifts or if everybody could have all of them at different times.

I looked at some different scriptures:

1 Cor. 12.6 - seems to say that everybody can have all of the gifts.
.7-11 - different gifts are given to different people
.31 - some are greater than others. interesting to note that it says "eagerly desire the greater gifts" right before going into the love chapter.
1 Cor. 14 - "eagerly desire". everybody should seek the gift of prophecy which is better than the gift of tongues. also that gifts should be used to build up the church.
Romans 12.6 - different gifts are given according to grace given us

In conclusion, I think it is interesting and must be significant that Paul says at least twice to "eagerly desire" the spiritual gifts. I don't think I often do that. The basic idea I got from studying this topic today is that we should desire the spiritual gifts and the Spirit will choose which gifts to give which people at which times. It is not up to us to decide the spiritual gifts. Rather, we should ultimately seek to love each other and glorify God, and the gifts will be manifest in our means of doing so.

Along the same lines, I was struck by something Paul said in chapter 4 of 1 Corinthians. In verse 7, he writes "For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?"

To me this speaks not only of pride but also jealousy and competitiveness/comparison. I often compare myself and "my" abilities with others, but "my" abilities are only what God has given me. So, instead of comparing, I should be praising God for what he has given to each of us. When complimenting somebody or receiving a compliment, I should be mindful that God is the creator and giver of all things.

I said "along the same lines" because this can definitely apply to spiritual gifts. Rather than comparing our spiritual gifts, we should be using whatever gifts we are given gratefully and lovingly.

These were some good reminders to me and I hope they will be to you as well.