The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity

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If I develop one gift, it means that other gifts will not be used. Doors will close on
a million lovely possibilities. . . . Commitment at the point of my gifts means that I
must give up being a straddler. Somewhere in the deeps of me I know this. Life will
not be the smorgasbord I have made it, sampling and tasting here and there. My
commitment will give me an identity. 4
EFFECTIVENESS
It is vital to find out what instrument we are to play in God’s great orchestra of ministry. We
are most effective when we play that instrument that we are most gifted in playing. Much waste
takes place when we insist on spending our energies in activities for which we are not gifted. The
following fable illustrates this.
“A group of animals decided to improve their general welfare by starting a school.
The curriculum included swimming, running, climbing, and flying. The duck, an
excellent swimmer, was deficient in other areas, so he majored in climbing, running
and flying, much to the detriment of his swimming. The rabbit, a superior runner,
was forced to spend so much of his time in other classes that he soon lost much of
his famed speed. The squirrel, who had been rated ‘A’ as a climber dropped to a ‘C’
because his instructors spent hours trying to teach him to swim and fly. And the
eagle disciplined for soaring to the treetop when he had been told to learn how
to climb, even though flying was most natural for him.” 5
We are to concentrate on our strengths so that the Holy Spirit can have free reign in our lives.
The Church of Jesus Christ grows when God’s people know their gifts and use them by the grace
of God.
The important thing is not what gifts we have, but that we exercise the gifts God has given us:
“If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving,
let him serve, if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage;
if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership,
let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully” (Rom. 12:6b-8).
GIFTS ARE NOT TALENTS
Non-Christians have talents through common grace, present from birth. Many unbelievers play
the piano well, paint beautifully, sculpture realistically, master languages easily, orate eloquently,
write effectively. But these are talents, not gifts. No unbeliever has a spiritual gift. Only believers
are gifted spiritually.