~ The Spiritual Gift of Going / Mercy ~
Opening Comment ~ “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” (James 1:16-18).
Serving Gifts ~ Within the Service Sector we saw a parallel of Spiritual Gift of Serving with non-profit organizations in society. The Gift of Going / Mercy could be likened to Missionaries.
Gift of Mercy ~ The gift of mercy can be broadly defined as helping the less fortunate or those who are in distress.
“There are some who have a special gift for going after those in distress and showing them the kindness of God.” –John Phillips
“The God-given ability to be sensitive or empathetic to people who are in affliction or misery and to lift internal burdens with cheerfulness.” –Loren Fischer
Some feel this gift is given especially to those who are called of God to do visitation work among the sick and afflicted. It is not to be done with a long face but with “cheerfulness” (Romans 12:8) or, as some have rendered it, with “hilarity!”
Scripture ~ “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine” (Proverbs 17:22).
“For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness” (Romans 12:4-8).
Biblical Examples ~ Perhaps the first Biblical account that comes to mind is the event we refer to as The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37). Jesus tells us, “But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you’” (Luke 10:33-35).
David showed compassion for Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9:6-13). “‘As for Mephibosheth,’ said the king, ‘he shall eat at my table like one of the king’s sons’ (2 Samuel 9:11).
Another example is Dorcas (Acts 9:36-43). “At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did” (Acts 9:36).
Traits ~ People with the gift of mercy will typically 1) notice and respond to people in need, finding it difficult to say no when asked to help others, 2) are quick to help people in distress, sometimes without evaluating the situation fully, 3) lay aside personal desires to help others (sometimes they get too involved in others’ problems), 4) determine what needs to be done by circumstances and feelings with little thought for the consequences, 5) volunteer to help by doing things for others to aid them when they need assistance, 6) respond quickly and encourage others to help meet the needs of people, 7) will abandon personal plans to encourage others or to make others happy, and 8) will act as a peacemaker in controversial situations.
Closing Comments ~ “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:12-16).
“Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:6-7).
“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.
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