Romans 12: Part 5
After discussing how one body has many parts and how each member belongs to the others, Paul continues with some more concrete examples in verses 6-8.
Different Gifts
We have been given different gifts. Like a body, we do not all have the same function in the Church. We have these gifts through the grace of God. This is a gift, not a salary or requirement. God did not HAVE to give us a gift, but He chose to give them to us anyway. We know that it's rude to tell the giver of a gift "You gave me ____, but I was hoping for ____ instead", likewise it is rude to tell that to God. As a side tangent, it is still rude to tell a third party our complaints about a gift we received. So let us consider our gifts with appreciation and gratitude.
Using Our Gifts
Paul goes through 7 examples of gifts here: Prophesying, Serving, Teaching, Encouraging, Giving, Leading, and Showing Mercy. (In addition to this passage, we can learn about spiritual gifts by reading 1 Corinthians 12-14 and Ephesians 4 as well). There are plenty of books and even online surveys that are available to test and see what our gifts are, but that is outside of the scope of this series. The short version of Paul's message: if you have a gift, use it!
Prophesying: If you want to dive deeper into the gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4 (apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers), I recommend reading Primal Fire: Reigniting the Church with the Five Gifts of Jesus by Neil Cole. It goes more in depth into these five roles/gifts, and you'll note that the gifts of prophesying and teaching are also in this list in Romans 12. That book taught me that a prophet isn't just someone who knows the future or can tell you things about yourself that you never told anyone. A prophet is someone who hears God's voice and a prophet's role is to teach others in the Church to do the same. If you are upset by the injustices that you see in the world and want to see people doing something about them, you might have the prophet's gift.
Serving: Some people have this gift. Others have "Acts of Service" as a "Love Language" as Gary Chapman has taught us. When we serve someone, we are meeting their needs or sometimes even their wants. Sometimes we are doing something that they can't do for themselves. Other times we are doing something that they can do for themselves, but it is nice to not have to do it.
Teaching: Theology is the study of God. As Christians, we are all supposed to be theologians, or studiers of God. People with this gift can teach about God, the Bible, the historical context around events in the Bible, as well as lessons from the saints throughout the ages. Primal Fire also notes that the role of a teacher is to teach people to teach themselves. We should be equipping our students to do their own research and learn on their own, instead of merely giving them a lesson every week.
Encouraging: The world is a discouraging place. Encouragement isn't just about praising someone for something they have achieved; it's also about challenging and spurring people on to continue to stay faithful to God. As long as we are alive, we have more to learn, grow, and do. Encouragers affirm the work we have done, even as they encourage us to stay the course until the end.
Giving: We do not all have access to the same amount of resources. Some people are in severe poverty, while others are living in over-stuffed houses. Some people are starving, while others are throwing spoiled food away. When we give, we do not expect something in return, nor we are attaching strings and conditions to our gifts.
Leading: Some are leaders and some are followers. We are called to be subject and to submit to earthly authorities, as long as they are in line with God's commands. Those who are leaders need to be sure that they are calling people to be obedient to God's will, not their human will.
Showing Mercy: When we show mercy to someone, we do not give them the punishment or condemnation that they deserve. We do not say that zinger that would put them in their place. But mercy is more than just not distributing a punishment that someone deserves. It is also walking with someone through their pain. It is choosing to believe the best about someone until proven otherwise. It is offering a smile and forgiveness when someone confesses that they have wronged you.
A Note about Adverbs
Part of my job is teaching English, so please bear with me while I nerd out about the grammar of this passage. Three of these gifts are commanded to be used in conjunction with an adverb. An adverb takes an adjective and adds an "-ly" to the end. So it changes the sentence from "She is generous" (Subject-verb-adjective) to "She gives generously" (Subject-verb-adverb). In this case GENEROUS describes an attribute that she has, whereas GENEROUSLY describes the manner in which she gives.
Paul tells us to Give Generously, Lead Diligently, and Cheerfully Show Mercy. He also tells us to Prophesy In Accordance With Our Faith, but that's not quite an adverb.
Generously: When we give generously, we are giving more than the bare minimum. We are giving above and beyond what is required of us. Instead of giving a can of about-to-expire cranberry sauce, we give newly bought canned food that the person likes.
Diligently: When we lead diligently, we do not just tell people what to do while scrolling through social media. We are active and involved. We are modeling, coaching, and directing. This takes intentionality and focus.
Cheerfully: When we show mercy cheerfully, we are not manipulating or sending out "guilt trip" vibes. We are pleasant and trying to make the situation pleasant for the person involved. The person should leave feeling better, not worse. (To be fair, you cannot control how the other person feels, but you can do what you can to not make the other person feel dehumanized, belittled, or patronized).
In accordance with your faith: When we prophesy, in accordance with our faith, we are making sure that we are staying in step with God. We are not saying what WE want God to do or what WE think will happen, but we are telling people what God has clearly communicated in His Word and through His Holy Spirit.
Questions to Wrestle With
Take time this week to consider:
-What gift(s) has God given you?
-Do you treat it as what you're due or as a gift?
-When have you expressed dissatisfaction with your gift, either to a friend or to God?
-Which of these gifts might you have?
-How have you been using this gift?
-Which of these adverbs is easy for you?
-Which of these adverbs is difficult for you?
-Which one do you need to put into practice?
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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