Not Cheating Others of What God has Gifted Me to Do

In review of 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 it says, “There are different spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. There are different ways of serving, and yet the same Lord is served. There are different types of work to do, but the same God produces every gift in every person.”

Bottom Line:

There are different spiritual gifts, but they all come from the same Spirit. There are different ways of serving, yet we serve the same Lord. The same God works in all of us and helps us in everything we do.

What this means to me:

While there are different spiritual gifts that are given, they all come from the same Spirit. There are different ways in which we can serve, but we are serving the same God. God works in me and helps me in everything I do to accomplish His will.

Knowing about how I’m shaped, helps me to better understand what I should be and should be doing. Knowing and understanding this helps me to focus on and make better use of the life God has given me. This morning I’m reminded that the moment I accepted and put my faith in Christ, God gave me four major gifts:

The first is forgiveness. Romans 5:15 reminds me, “For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ” (NLT). The first thing Jesus did was wipe out everything I had ever done wrong. It’s forgiven! There is no further condemnation for me.

Next was eternal life. God has long-range plans for me. The Bible says in Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (NIV). There is never anything I can do to work or earn my way into Heaven. The only way is by God’s free gift that I accept by faith.

I’m also given the Holy Spirit. Romans 5:5 says, “God has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” The evidence of letting God live through my life is when I embody the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Lastly is special abilities. These special abilities are called spiritual gifts, which makes them different from material or physical gifts. They are the abilities I need to get the job done that God wants me to do.

Today’s verse from 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 says, “There are different spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. There are different ways of serving, and yet the same Lord is served. There are different types of work to do, but the same God produces every gift in every person” (GW).

God has a purpose for my life, and my spiritual gifts are the equipment he gives me to do what he is asking me to do. God will never ask me to do something he hasn't given me the ability to do. They were given to me the moment I accepted Christ. Now, I don’t get to choose my gifts, and I certainly don’t earn them.  Also, they are not here for my benefit. Rather my spiritual gifts are given to me to help others. And others in my church family are given their gifts to help me. Therefore if I don’t develop and use my spiritual gifts, then I end up cheating others.