Spiritual Gifts

Much has been made of the three lists of spiritual gifts in the New Testament: Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4.  Some people do spiritual gift inventories to decipher what gift or gifts they have, and others do the same inventories to see what gifts are present or missing in their groups.  Most, whether consciously or subconsciously, use this information to distinguish themselves and others, as if there were an unsaid pecking order of spiritual gifts.

 

I don't think Paul, who wrote all three of the books mentioned above, had these applications in mind when he made these lists.  First, I don't think these lists are meant to be comprehensive, as if this is the all-inclusive list and there are no others that people can have.  Second, the focus is not on the gifts as much as on the Giver; from what I read in these three books, divisions were an issue, and part of what Paul was trying to do in all three letters was to respond to those divisions by telling his readers that gifts weren't meant to rank people but to unite them. 

 

Finally, you get the sense that what's most important to Paul is not what gift you have but that you use it.  He uses the analogy of a human body, as if to say, "It doesn't matter what body part you are; but whatever body part you are, you better fulfill the role of that body part – or else this body's in trouble!" 

 

If Paul were writing a letter to 21^st century America, he would see divisions and boasting and low self-esteem, too.  And he'd make up another list of spiritual gifts.  Not to further shed light on what counts as a spiritual gift – all talents have spiritual dimensions if we acknowledge them to be from God and for His purposes – but to spur us on to using them to build up the whole Body.  Amen, let it be so.