The last reflection we had on spiritual gifts left off with the possibility of looking at some critical issues about implementing or not implementing spiritual gifts that hinged on issues of pride, arrogance, resistance, and obedience. But before we launch a discussion in that direction let me pose another question that comes up when people are first exploring gifts: Can I pick and choose my gift?

  Paul tells us to desire the best of gifts, but he is not suggesting that we are in a position to choose. That is a matter between your desire and God’s desire. Just because you might desire a certain “gift” does not guarantee that you will receive it. It is the Holy Spirit that determines what is needed. It is okay to experiment with what you think may be your gift/s, but augment it with prayer, conscientious observation, feedback from others, and other mechanisms of confirmation. Unless you step out in faith and try to identify and utilize possible gifts through experimentation, you will remain intentionally resistant to God’s possibilities for you. Obviously, taking a quality spiritual gifts survey or assessment is essential to narrow down possible areas of focus.

  It is essential that trust (an aspect of faith) be a quality of your efforts. Remember that Satan is very good at instilling doubt and distrust. This forces many to remain frozen and rigid. We recognize that God has promised something, but we allow Satan to steal the joy and the celestial energy of the promise. We get into a pattern of “Yes, but….” Doubt is like a dam in the river of God’s flowing grace. If unbelief can be routed by determined believing, then doubt can be defeated by not doubting. Scripture declares that you are gifted. Don’t doubt it!

  There is a more deadly sin however, that will not only impede your use of given gifts, but will also poison the Body: pride and defeat. Paul readily warned about thinking too highly of ourselves and too lowly of others. There is no place for this in the Body of Christ. Unfortunately, it is all too readily done by most of us.

  To be gifted by God is a high privilege. To be delivered from sin, liberated from selfishness, and empowered with purposive grace for special ministries is to realize how privileged we are. This, however, is not permission for pride and arrogance to be part of who we are. In fact, it is more a support for sacramental obedience. Spiritual gifts are not just given to those who show promise or as a special reward; they are given by divine wisdom to every believer to serve other members of the Body and other people through the Body. God makes those decisions so it is not for us to figure out the how and why. All who are gifted are of equal rank and privilege because everyone is divinely chosen.

  If pride does not have a place, then neither does defeat. We were not given gifts to succeed in some sort of personal enterprise. God gives gifts to be used to His glory and purpose. When we fall prey to defeatist thinking when we think we see failure in the use of our gifts, we restrict God’s flow of grace and hurt the Body. Excellence is always a worthy goal, but only as we develop and apply our gifts. Beware of projecting that into supposed or expected results. Remember that barriers may exist with other persons and circumstances, not with your use of gifts. So do not judge success by an apparent lack of success. God is still behind it all.

  Just as you do not make your gifts “work,” by whom and what you are, then neither should we expect the results to belong to us. We do not know how to judge the results. Only God can do that. Our privilege is to use our gifts for the “Lord of the harvest” (Matthew 9:38). We work at the pleasure of the God of results (see Philippians 2:12-13).

  If we truly believe this and act accordingly, there is no room for entitlement. After all, the harvest of our efforts is really not the worthy pursuit. Unfortunately, it is also another human foible to seek from God what we want and what we believe we are entitled to, only to discover that a cost is paid in a vital relationship with God. It is crucial to remember that a spiritual gift is never for the profit or aggrandizement of the gifted, but for the glory of God (see 1 Peter 4:11), and for the edification of the body (see Ephesians 4:12), and completion of ministry in the world. Using our spiritual gifts always produces God’s intended results.

  While we don’t always know the outcome of our obedience, we do not have to know to be obedient. Authentic faith—disciplined faith—that puts us in touch with the God who gives gifts also enables us to trust God fully. Let’s expand this matter of obedience for a moment.

  Either explicitly or implicitly, the word obey or obedience pops up in connection with the use of spiritual gifts (see Romans 11:29-33; obedience and disobedience are used there four times). In Romans 12:6 Paul asserts, “Having gifts that differ, . . .let us use them”. That is an imperative statement! And in 1 Peter 4:10: “As each has received a gift, employ it for one another.” Paul also declares in Romans 11:29, that the “gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.” If so, then there is a strong matter of obedience, but also of joy and support.

  If you obey the calling, then you must also obey the using of spiritual gifts. Being called is being solicited, identified, and designated for something. This directly implicates that giftedness is a personalized experience as well. If the call and the gifts are irrevocable, then both are not capable of change or turning back. Consequently, obedience is an essential and appropriate response; and a nonnegotiable component of the fellowship and service in the Body of Christ.

  Still, with Satan’s sabotage and our own beleaguered hubris, we are so often given to trying to call the shots on our own terms. We want to decide for ourselves or act for ourselves according to our own desires rather than allowing the Creator to use us in a much more profound and ultimately much more successful plan. Such has been the issue between man and God since the beginning. Well, friends that is all there is for now.

Until next time, shalom! Pastor Bill

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