Variety is the Spice

March 17

On Spiritual Gifts

Read: 1 Cor. 12, focus v.4-11

Variety is the Spice

“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (v.7)

It has been said, “variety is the spice of life”. I am not so sure that is ALWAYS TRUE… but for the most part it is correct. There is a certain beauty that comes from variety and the Lord has built that into the C/church in our spiritual gifts. Chances are that the way your gifts work out in the community will be unique to you! This is GOOD. A community can totally use multiple people with the gift of FAITH. A body of believers will be blessed by multiple people who can give utterance to wisdom. No two believers will manifest their gifts in exactly the same way… and we are ALL more BLESSED because of it. It is for our “common good”.

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.” (v.4-6) When we read this, it becomes clear that the list that allows is not designed to be “exhaustive”. One gets the sense that there are countless number of combinations between gifts, service, and activities. Not all of us will use our gifts in the same service or activity… even if we have the same gift… it will always look somewhat unique to us. I believe the Lord does this to breed dependance on him in us! We must look t the Lord to be be led into our gifts… then where they are to be used in service… then to do exactly what activity. Despite the great variety in gifts, service, and activities we must fight to remember IT IS THE SAME Spirit, Lord, and God as the source of it all. Unity (one God) in the midst of diversity (variety of gifts/services/activities).* There is such irony in the fact that those things given for the “common good” (spiritual gifts) have become such a source of division within the body of Christ. I can’t help but think that the enemy chuckles at that.

Once we notice this varies of gifts, services, and activities we can see the potential hurdles we have created within our gathering of believers. There is a pretty narrow set of opportunities to use ones gifts within the church… and a pretty narrow set of gifts being modeled so that others could discover and learn to use their gifts in the first place. I confess, it is not “easy” to work out these details… nevertheless, it is crucial that we do. When the sum total of participation in the church body is babysit kids (children’s ministry), help people park (facilities) , smile and say “hi”(greeters), or if you are good enough sing / play music / or run the sound (worship team) you start to get the feeling that what Paul is writing about here and what we are doing seem different. Look at this list and then think about how, when, and where you might interact with these sorts of gifts?

Utterance of Wisdom

Utterance of Knowledge

Faith

Healing

Working of Miracles

Prophecy

Distinguishing between spirits

Various kinds of tongues

Interpretation of tongues

I am not saying all of these happen on a Sunday morning. (A variety of services and activities for a variety of gifts.) What I want us to consider though is if/when the answer is “not on a Sunday morning” then the follow up question is “well then when?” Not spoken in arrogance , accusation, or attack… but genuinely. “Can you point me in the right direction?… I eagerly desire the learning and the use of my spiritual gifts and I long for the help and direction of the community… of my spiritual leaders.” This is a weighty task for the men and women who lead and shepherd. It is so much easier to “work the formula” than it is to “shepherd the sheep”. I am wrestling with this myself as I lead my family. I am seeking the Lord’s direction in knowing my wife and children’s spiritual gifts as much as knowing their birthdays, hobbies, and grades. How am I making room for them to use their gifts… in a variety of services… through a beautiful array of activities. I am as committed to doing my best to launch my kids knowing something of their spiritual gifts as I am anything else. I want to send them off to college knowing the gifts they have been given for the “common good” and supernatural ministry of the C/church.

I think in some ways we have let this slip a little… not totally… but a little. I think it will take a concerted effort and a good bit of work for us as a generation of Christians in the west to get back on top of this… to get to a point where we are utilizes these “manifestations of the Spirit” in healthy and powerful ways. We need the help of some brothers and sisters in Christ that - frankly - some of us may have marginalized over the years. Some of us need to repent for the condition / position of our hearts or the way that we have been ignoring the word of God. Here is what I know is true: IT IS WORTH IT. Spirit driven ministry, carried out in dependance on the Father and devoted to his direction, eclipses our man made efforts and systems. The people of God in the last days will need every ounce of power and “building up for the common good” that we can get! I can see it. I can see the ways that the people of God could / wold work together and regain some of what has been lost. I can envision a people coming to life and learning of their gifts - each contributing in their own unique way… the “variety” of the body of Christ. Love you guys. - JDP