Romans 12;4-8 – For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 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.
Paul has just finished his major theological argument that basically lays down the foundational beliefs of the Christian Church. As a result he says that we should offer ourselves to God, this would include all of our giftings because it is the Lord that gave us the gifts (spiritual and natural) and it is the Lord that empowers these gifts in our lives. He lists some of these gifts in this passage such as the prophetic gifts, the gift of speaking or ministry, teaching, giving, and leadership gifts. All of these gifts are gifts of grace (charisma) and are distributed to minister to the various parts of the Body of Christ. Here is how Barclay describes this teaching.
“Paul is really saying that whatever gift any individual has comes from God. He calls gifts charismata. In the New Testament, a charisma is something given by God to people as individuals and which they could never have acquired or attained for themselves….. We all have our own charisma. It may be for writing sermons, building houses, sowing seeds, carving wood, working with figures, playing the piano, singing songs, teaching children, or playing football or golf. It is a something plus given to each one of us by God.”
So everyone of us have been given natural gifts as well as spiritual gifts. The whole purpose for all of this is to point His people to the kingdom of God and to equip them so that they can use their time and talent to advance the kingdom of God. As you offer yourself to the Lord just as Jesus did you will begin to have compassion on someone or on a particular group of people and you will also have a strong desire to reach out to them in love. Don’t let this new passion escape you. Launch out and put your gifts to use. This is the whole point of the gifts of God.
