I’ll never forget the Christmas when our firstborn son was finally old enough to appreciate holiday traditions. On the morning of December 25, he jumped up and down anticipating the thrill of opening the packages peeking out from the top of his stocking. He tore into the first gift and held the prize high above his head, shouting with glee: “BIG BOY UNDERWEAR!!” Our ploy to make potty training alluring seemed to be working. He ran to his bedroom and returned moments later to model them proudly.
The next Christmas, he received underwear in his stocking again. His reaction was not quite as exuberant the second time around. Since then, both of our boys have continued to receive this “gift,” more for the sake of tradition than anything else. With each phase of development, their reactions have been age appropriate. They’ve gone from the glee of toddlers to the embarrassment of grade schoolers to the annoyance of tweens to the resignation of teens. They know that as long as stockings are hung on the mantel, underwear will be one of the gifts inside them.
Until a few years ago, I viewed my spiritual gifts similarly to my boys’ reaction to the yearly underwear. I thought they were practical and useful, but not especially exciting. The problem was that I’d confused spiritual gifts with my natural abilities.
I am good at organizing people and events. This isn’t meant to sound proud—I say it in the same way I would tell you I have brown hair and hazel eyes. Because of this skill, I have served different ministries in a variety of administrative roles. Although I haven’t particularly derived joy from my service, I’ve recognized the part I’ve played enabled these ministries to impact others. I’d resigned myself to the fact that administration was one of my spiritual gifts, albeit a less “fun” one than some of the others.
The problem was, I was serving Jesus without the power of the Holy Spirit. I was using my natural abilities for kingdom purposes, but it wasn’t exhilarating for me because my true spiritual gifts hadn’t been activated. Scripture tells us that each person who accepts Christ receives the Holy Spirit. When this happens, we receive spiritual gifts: “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit…All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.” (1 Corinthians 12:4 & 11, NIV)
Through a class I took on spiritual gifts, I’ve learned that they are given through the Holy Spirit and that using them brings a sense of deep joy and personal fulfillment. I’ve encountered people who have the gift of administration and that’s how I know I don’t have it. They get as excited about organizing and overseeing things as I do about teaching, shepherding, and encouraging others. It took trial and error to realize this over time.
The gifts God gives us are to be used to glorify Him. They energize us and build up fellow believers: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:10-11, NIV)
Discovering my spiritual gifts helped me recognize when to say “yes” and when to say “no” to invitations to serve. It was freeing when I realized declining opened opportunities for others with gifts that were better suited to the requests. I stopped trying to fill open slots where needs were greatest and started praying for God to lead me to the places He wanted to use the gifts He’d given me. Instead of focusing on pleasing people, I considered how I could best please God. I learned that when I’m serving in an area where I’m gifted spiritually, it doesn’t feel like work. When things get challenging, I lean into God for wisdom and strength instead of trying harder based on my own abilities.
If you’re like I was and you’re just guessing what spiritual gifts you have, can I encourage you to find out? Take inventory of past experiences and see what you can learn from them. Start by taking a short survey provided by CPC Danville. Simply click here and follow the prompts.
For a more detailed look, check out the book S.H.A.P.E Finding and Fulfilling Your Unique Purpose for Life by Eric Rees. Commit to discovering more about who God has made you to be. Then you can activate your gifts and experience the joy of using them to further God’s kingdom. Click on the link and make Francesca Battistelli’s song “Write Your Story” your prayer today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-aeDEvOzVU
Inspired by Week 8 in 1 Peter: A Living Hope in Christ by Jen Wilkin, Lifeway Press, 2016
Rees, Erik; S.H.A.P.E. Finding and Fulfilling Your Unique Purpose for Life; 2006, Saddleback Resources.
Note- this post is a re-written version of one that I wrote in October, 2014 entitled “Spiritual Gifts, Natural Abilities, Unplanned Ministries and Just Plain Obedience.”