Are You Hoarding Your Gifts?

All believers are given spiritual gifts. It is a believer's responsibility to find out what those gifts are and to use them for the glory of God and for the edification of their brothers and sisters in Christ.

"Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts." 1 Corinthians 14:1

"So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church." 1 Corinthians 14:12

"Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware...Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who worked all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Holy Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.

But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.

If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,' it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, 'Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,' it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them in the body, just as He desired." 1 Corinthians 12:1, 4-18

"Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed upon you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hand by the presbytery. Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things; for as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you." 1 Timothy 4:14-16

Many gifts are given to God's people! How many of them are actually used and used for the purpose which God has given them? Please allow the body to function as God intended it to, by the use of these precious gifts which are for the common good of His people. If you do not know what your gifts are, begin to search this out. Ask others to help you and ask God to reveal them to you. Chances are those around you will know what gifts you have...Study up on them and what each one means. There are other sections of scripture which also talk about gifts.

Once you have determined what your gifts are, find out how you can use them for the benefit of others. And then purpose to use them for His glory (never your own!). If you can sing, then sing for all to hear (so many of us only wish we could sing!!). If you can teach, then you should begin exercising this gift; sign up to teach Sunday school. If you can discern, by all means share that with others! If you can encourage, become an encourager of the body of Christ.

Do not be a hoarder of your spiritual gifts! They were not meant for your good alone.

"And for this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline." 2 Timothy 1:6-7

Dear Lord, Allow us to find and use our gifts for the common good of all of Your children. Let us not neglect the gifts You have given, nor keep them to ourselves. Help us to operate as one body with one Spirit, Jesus Christ our Lord.