Ungifted
This Sunday our pastor gave a sermon on spiritual gifts. He covered what they are, how we get them, and how important it is for each of us to use our gifts within the body of Christ. I’ve been thinking a lot about my gifting over the past few days. I think that most of us can identify which spiritual gifts we have. I’ve taken classes, have heard several teachings, and have taken a few inventories in order to figure it out, and many of you have too. But I don’t think we spend enough time thinking about the spiritual gifts we don’t have.
Due to my ministry affiliations, I get a lot of email from women who have marriages in crisis and are looking for advice. Regardless of the specifics, I always tell them these two things: Turn to God in prayer, and turn to a few other safe people (the Church) for relationship. Very few people like that advice. I think that’s because we really like to do things on our own. And we really aren’t too keen on relying on others.
Think about any message you’ve ever heard on spiritual gifting. I’m willing to wager that they were all focused on identifying your gifts so you can use them serving others both within the church body and in your larger community. If you are being asked to use our gifts to serve others, it stands to reason that others are being asked to use their gifts serving you.
Let me repeat that: The people you see every Sunday at church are being called to serve you. Will you let them?
The reality is that we were never, ever meant to live this life on our own. We were designed to live in community with other believers.
I think it’s important for us to learn what our gifts aren’t. That is where we will find our vulnerabilities and weaknesses. That is where we need others to draw alongside us if we are to live out His call in our lives. That is where we need to humble ourselves and not only allow others to see our imperfections but to serve us in them. God wants you to be served.
My primary spiritual gifts are exhortation, teaching, and leadership.
I am equally ungifted in other areas. I need people around me who are strong in the areas of adminstration (seriously, I’m a train wreck), discernment, faith, prayer, wisdom, and helps. I know that it would be very dangerous for me not to have people strong in these giftings speaking into my life on a regular basis.
And if any of you have the gift of miricales give me a call. I’d love you be your friend! ;)
Hey Nicole
I was just thinking, as I read this, about my church. We have these 8 principles we live by in our waking through what it means to be a multi-racial congregation, and one of those is interdependence. Because people tend to be either really good at doing for others or really good at letting others do for them… but it takes a lot of conscious effort to be both, to do both.
Good stuff.
The gift of helps? Funny, only the 2nd time I’ve ever heard that phrase. 1st was here: http://stuffchristianslike.net/2009/10/not-having-the-spiritual-gift-of-helps/
I think our weaknesses in spiritual gifts are indeed a great example showing us that we need to be in community with others. Frustrating when I try to do something that I’m not gifted to do. Almost as frustrating as watching someone attempt something they are not gifted to do, and I am.
What an interesting perspective! I’ve never thought of it this way. My main gifts are leadership and administration, and I’m also strong in exhortation and teaching. But prayer and giving and helps – not so much my THANG. Interestingly enough, those are the areas that are the LEAST comfortable accepting from others. Hmmm…
exhortation, intercessor, discernment. i lack administration skills. and mercy. o_O
These tests can be so scattered. I mean, I test high in Mercy, Discernment, Teaching and Wisdom and I SO don’t fit any of those. Administration and helps on the bottom.
I have the spiritual gift of talking a lot. This may not seem like a plus but I think in some ways it is. I also think I am not a bad teacher and throw in a little wisdom for good measure. However I have no mercy or real patience.
Wow. Love this. We don’t often think about other people being called to serve us. Thanks for the awesome reminder. I appreciate your insight and teaching!
I love the idea of “spiritual gifts” and the journey to discovering them. Long ago, I took a “spiritual gifts” test– it was fundamentalist with very sexist bible quotations, but somehow, I took it anyway.
I was shocked to discover that one of my gifts was “hospitality”– seems obvious, right, but I wasn’t aware of this instinct “spiritually” I just thought I enjoyed making people feel welcome in my home, or cooking for people… that sort of thing. Anyway, it made me realize that NOT being able to show people hospitality was kind of stunting, and the more I tried it, the happier I felt.
I love this blog by the way… just discovered it recently.
I have the talking a lot gift too :)
Thanks :)
Thank you so much! I’m glad you started stopping by. It’s nice to have you in the conversation.
We lack the same things :)
I agree that they are scattered. I think that my gifts have sort of changed over time as I’ve grown, become more spiritually mature, and have had more life experiences.
I’m not comfortable accepting from others where I am weak too. I need to get over myself.
Your church sounds awesome.
I can’t believe you’ve never heard of the gift of helps! I thought every church promoted that gift. It’s the one that get you suckered into helping fold tables and chairs after a church function.
I find myself experiencing different gifts and different times depending on the circumstances and needs… sort of like a carpenter needing a saw sometimes and a hammer at other times. For me it’s actually harder to let people help me who have similar gifting to mine, who step in when I need extra help. Just because I can do something, doesn’t mean I should. I am so thankful to the people who just kind of ignore my grousing and help me anyway. Over the years I’ve had several close friends and ministry partners who have the gift of adminstration and the gifts of mercy and helps. Even though I can do the administrative stuff and I’m pretty good at it… that is the stuff that bogs me down saps my strength and energy. These amazing people step in and help me all sorts of ways that free me up to do more one on one people stuff and ministry. It’s so hard sometimes handing stuff over to others but they are so gracious to me and God has used them over and over again to remind me that He cares for me and my needs too.
Excellent, excellent insights. I’m so glad yo left this comment.