FollowSpiritual Gifts (3)
More About Spiritual Gifting
Introduction:
For the lasttwoweeks, we have discussed the Spiritual Gifts listed in Ephesians, and in Romans. We only brushed over a few of gifts in Romans, for lack of time, and I want to delve into them a little more deeply, today.
Romans 12:8-11 (read it)
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
The Relational Gifts
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Exhortation–Encouragement
Encouragement is a pretty vital gift: it is the ability to see a need in someone’s life, and strengthen them by drawing alongside and being a friend, or a helper, or to encourage them to make good decisions.
Some people are constant encouragers to those around them. Some are not. But, in Hebrews 10:24, 25, God tells us all to encourage one another! So those of us who do not come by it naturally have no excuse— we still have the command to do it.
But God has truly gifted some believers to be encouragers to other believers. Encouragement just seems to flow out of them wherever they go. These brothers and sisters are a tremendous blessing to the Church. We so badly need encouragers.
Giving with Simplicity
Giving, obviously, requires having something to give. But I remember hearing about a woman of limited income, who picked blackberries for pay, all summer, with the express intent of having enough to buy her little daughter a student violin. You can imagine how precious that violin had become, many years later, to her grown daughter, after her mother had passed away! She did not have enough to give what she wanted to give, so she found a way to earn the money, to give that violin to her daughter. It was truly a gift of love.
A person can “give for show,” making a spectacle of the gift—but Jesus condemned that practice. One can give simply, privately, with no attention to the gift or the giver: just to meet a need. That is a blessing. And the Greek word, “haplotēs,” sometimes translated as “simplicity” in King James English, also means “bountifully,” or “liberally.” So, be generous in your giving.
Seeing to the need of another person without regard to one’s own benefit is the simplest definition of Agapé Love. When we consider what Jesus did at the Cross, we see that he completely personified that Love.
Ruling with Diligence
Not all administrators are diligent…and not all are gifted to rule. But it takes diligent work to do a Godly job of overseeing any sort of work, or any group of people. Some people are gifted in administration: they can do a good job without damaging the people they serve. Others just want power: They cause offense, as they try to “bully” the others in their group, to force conformity.
This ungodly desire for preeminence is rooted in self-will. It has nothing to do with the gift of administration, or leadership. Compare 3rd John 9-11…Diotrephes is the counterexample to what God commands His shepherds to be. And the shepherds are to act as examples to the whole flock. 1st Peter 5:3 says, “Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock.” The Love of God has to be the motivating power in every area of the church, but especially in those who rule.
A gifted administrator, leader, ruler, elder—whatever name you choose to apply—must live as an example of Christ’s abiding presence. In 1st Corinthians 11:1, Paul gave an invitation, “Be ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ!” Coming from anyone but a truly godly leader, that would sound incredibly arrogant. But every man to whom God has given the gift of leadership should be able and willing, along with Paul, to say that.You are supposed to be living as an example, so that you can truly say, “Do as I do!” (As opposed to “Do as I say!”)
Showing Mercy, with Cheerfulness
Mercy is another gift that goes along with service and encouragement. It is tremendously valuable, because it mends hearts, it comforts the feeble and it quiets the fearful. It is the Compassion of God, in human form.
The “Report Card” on this gift is how it is received. If little children and the elderly are blessed when they are near you, and people are comforted by your presence, then perhaps you are gifted in this area. It is difficult to describe, but it is easy to see in others.
In Hosea 6:6, God said that Mercy was more valuable, and more acceptable to Him than sacrifice. He said, “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”
Jesus cited this passage in Matthew 9:13, when He condemned the judgmental stance of the religious leaders. He said, “But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” And again, in Matthew 12:7, under nearly identical circumstances: “But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.”
Notice that Jesus shows “Mercy” to be the opposite of condemnation and accusation. If you have a pattern of accusation, please take note: God clearly identifies the “Accuser” in Revelation 12:10, as Satan.
The opposite behavior, “Mercy,” is what God says He wants from all of us. And God has specially gifted some believers in this area, with a tender heart toward their fellow saints and sinners.
Love is the Undergirding Principle for All the Gifts
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Love– the Agapé love (along with its companion word phileo—brotherly love) is the key to all relationships in the body of Christ. Those two loves, working together, never lead to evil; only to what is best. So, a person who is claiming to express agapé love, but is doing wrong, is faking the love for the sake of cloaking the evil. Paul says, love is to “be without dissimulation”—without fakery—without pretense. If what you are doing is wrong, then the Agapé Love “left the room” a long time ago!
We are to completely avoid evil, and see it as abominable, wherever it appears…but especially in ourselves: We need to be looking at our motives, and our thoughts, since that is where God is looking. In Hebrews 4:12,God says he “is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart.” We are to cling to what is good, without exception. Our love for one another must be pure, drawing us closer to one another and to Christ. Agapé love never leads to sin!
Preferring One Another
We should be most comfortable in the company of other believers, and He commands that we give each other full respect and honor as children of God. In business and productivity, Agapé Love should produce an excellent work ethic, as we recognize that we are serving God as well as our employer.
If our spirit is right with God, it should produce a fervent love and worship for God, and a fervent desire to do His will and draw others to Him as well. Jesus said, “My food is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work.” (John 4:34)
These are the principles by which we are to guide our walk with God, our relationships with other believers and our relationship with the World around us. I trust that, as we meditate on this passage we can see it come to life in us, and transform us into the hands and feet and heart of Jesus, doing His work in this World.
Next week we will begin to examine 1st Corinthians 12, and the rest of the spiritual gifts.
Lord Jesus, please grip our hearts with the urgency of Your great Commission. Teach us to live in a way that honors You. Teach us to reflect Your Holiness, Your Love, and Your Mercy for the World around us to see, so that they will be drawn to You in faith.