~ Spiritual Gifts – Role Players ~
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).
Introduction ~ In our previous post in this series we pointed out the need for, and God’s intention, that all members of the local church act together to achieve the common goal. Just like in other arenas of life, such as sports, there are various roles to perform. The role of quarterback of an American football team is quite different from the role of a defensive lineman.
A well-run business needs excellent performance in engineering and design, in manufacturing, in marketing and sales, as well as finance and accounting.
A well-functioning local church requires excellence in their public image (pastors, teachers, etc.), their leadership (elders and other leaders), as well as service (from their deacons and members).
It is critical in any organization that all participants perform their
roles well if the common goal is to be achieved. One key is that each role player understands
their role and why it is critical to accomplishing the overall purpose and
mission of the organization.
Well-known secular motivator Zig Ziglar put it this way: “Although I am a positive thinker, at
least at times, if you needed surgery, I would not recommend that I be one to
do it.”
Comments ~ (1) All persons have multiple natural talents. (2) All believers have multiple spiritual gifts. (3) You have the right to ask God to strengthen your existing gifts or even add additional gifts – 2 Corinthians 9:8. (4) You should strive to build up other believers by using the gifts you have – 1 Corinthians 14:12.
A Story (unknown source) ~ “The children worked long and hard on their own little cardboard shack. It was to be a special spot – a clubhouse – where they could meet in solemn assembly or just laugh, play games, and fool around. As they thought long and hard about their rules, they came up with three rather perceptive ones: 1. Nobody act big. 2. Nobody act small. 3. Everybody act medium."
Scripture ~ “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips” (Proverbs 27:2).
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
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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