An Arm, A Leg, and A Gift

Life Lessons from 1 Corinthians, Chapter 12

I remember the time I was discussing spiritual gifts with a friend. Unfortunately, I didn’t recognize my gifts; therefore, I felt I had none. And I said so.

My friend looked directly at me and said, “Well, are you saved?”

I felt ridiculous and convicted. However, my friend had a point. If you have experienced salvation through faith in Christ, you have a spiritual gift or gifts given to you by the Holy Spirit.

My study Bible defines spiritual gifts this way: “a spiritual gift is a ministry the Spirit distributes to and empowers in an individual Christian for the common good.”

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. ⁵There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.⁶There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

Did you notice the words “common good”? In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul reminds the Corinthians that their spiritual gifts were for the common good. Paul uses the image of a human body to explain the purpose of gifts. All gifts are essential to the body of Christ, just like each part of our physical body is necessary.

Just like the parts of our body are different but equal, so are spiritual gifts. The Corinthians were “looking down” on what they considered “less impressive” gifts. Paul reminds them that just as their body would be unbalanced without one of its parts, so, too, is the body of Christ. Each gift is necessary. No gift is better than the other. All gifts, like musical instruments in a symphony, work together in perfect harmony.

If you are a believer in Christ, you have a gift, and the church needs YOU. When each member uses their spiritual gift, there will be spiritual balance. Every church member will fulfill their part in building up the whole church.

Is your church out of balance because YOU aren’t actively using your gift? Don’t think your gift isn’t necessary! God is just as pleased with the Christian actively using their gift of helps as He is with the person actively using their gift of prophecy or any other gift.

What gift has the Holy Spirit given you? How will you actively use it today?

If you’re unsure what your gift is, there are spiritual gift tests that can point you in the right direction. Ask others, for they may see the gift in you before you do! Most importantly, pray for God to show you what your gift is, and then get busy!

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” Romans 12:4-5