Reflection: Gifted to serve

“Do I have anything to offer?” Some of us may look at our church and wonder whether we have anything to add to the gathering or to the community. Yet we know from Scripture that every believer, upon receiving the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, has received gifts to serve the body of Christ. So, the answer is a resounding ‘Yes’. Paul says to the Corinthian Christians, “Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.” (1 Corinthians 12:1) and then he goes on to explain that, “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:7) God has equipped each one of us to serve the body of Christ.

Just as we are different members within the body of Christ, our gifts are different – but given by the same Spirit. As Paul assures the Corinthians, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” Within the diversity of our roles and gifts in the body of Christ, there is unity — which reflects the unity of our Triune God (notice that Paul mentions Father, Son and Spirit).

Paul lists some of the gifts of the Spirit to the Christians in Rome and Corinth: prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading, showing mercy, messages of wisdom, messages of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, miraculous powers, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in different kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues (see Romans 12:3-13  and 1 Corinthians 12:1-31). These lists can be helpful but were likely never intended to be comprehensive; there are many gifts and many ways of serving. The point Paul is making is that we can and should serve the body of Christ, in whatever way we can.

How do we know what are gifts are, and how we’ve been equipped to serve? I have served in different ministries and roles feeling well prepared and equipped and I have served feeling underprepared and completely ill equipped; but always, it is the encouragement from my sisters and brothers and the fruit of my service which has confirmed areas of gifting. It is in trying, in serving, that we receive confirmation of our gifts of service.

Prayer:

Lord God, thank you for equipping me to serve my brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you for the unique way you have gifted me. Please help me to trust you, and to step out in faithfulness to love and serve your people. In Jesus name, Amen.