~ 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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