About the Gifts

There has been much debate lately on the topic of spiritual gifts. (Seriously, just Google "strange fire debate" and you'll get an ear full.) One side says the miraculous or "sign gifts" have ceased and the other says, "Uh, uh!" We're all pretty sure that we know what "speaking in tongues" means ... and we're all pretty sure that very few others are sure. Everyone is interested in that whole "healing" thing because, well, it's really cool ... and most of us have never seen it. Lots and lots of disagreement on the topic. So, what do we know? As it turns out, the things we know might end up casting some light on the things of which we aren't sure.

We know that there is more than one gift. That's easy. We have three lists in the Bible (Rom 12:1-9; 1 Cor 12:8-10; Eph 4:11) and they all differ. (Oddly, despite all the lists, no matter where I turn I can certainly find someone who will tell me "I have the gift of gab" and no such gift shows up on any list.) So there are lots of spiritual gifts. (See what I did there? I stopped short of discussing individual ones because that is where we start disagreeing, and I'm just looking for what we know.)

We know that these gifts are given by the Spirit. How? "To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good" (1 Cor 12:7). Pretty clear. And after the 1 Cor 12 list we read, "All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as He wills" (1 Cor 12:11). Pretty obvious, then. But notice a couple other related facts. First, they are given by the Spirit "to each." "I don't know," some have told me, "I don't think I have a gift." No, that's not possible. The Spirit gives to each. And the other end of the sentence is equally important: "for the common good." Now, that's a little unusual, isn't it? I mean, we often think of tongues, for instance, as a "prayer language", some sort of private blessing that just sweetens my walk with Jesus. But this is quite clear. The gifts given by the Spirit are not for private use; they are for the common good. Finally, notice who decides what gift you or I will get. It says, "as He wills." Not as I will. Not your request. Paul encourages us to "earnestly desire the spiritual gifts" (1 Cor 14:1), but never forget that spiritual gifts are given by the Spirit's will. (I was once told by one fellow that he could get me the gift of tongues. Kind of puts a hold on that idea, doesn't it?)

One more thing we know. We are commanded to put spiritual gifts to work. "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace" (1 Peter 4:10). Now, that's clearly in line with Paul's "for the common good", but we seem to almost entirely miss this command. You have a gift; use it.

There is a lot of debate beyond this. What remains? What doesn't? What is real? What isn't? Much discussion and not a whole lot of resolution, even among friends. But there is one more thing of which we can be assured. the whole point is "that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 4:11). Perhaps if we start there and work our way through the explicit, the rest will come a little easier. There are lots of gifts. Everyone has at least one. Gifts are given by the Spirit according to His will. You are commanded to exercise your gift(s) for the benefit of everyone. Now, before we seek to solve the rest of the questions, let's get to work on that, okay?