Bible Study

Title: But It's Not My Gift
Date: Sep 22, 2005
Topic(s): Service/Servanthood
Scripture: Ephesians 4:15-16, Colossians 3:1-25, Romans 12:1-13:14

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A spiritual gift is just that--a gift from God that enables you to build up the Body of Christ and meet the needs of others. However, your gift is only one dimension of your Christian walk; it's not meant to be a "get out of ministry free" card. If you don't have the gift of mercy but God brings hurting people into your life, you still have a responsibility to care for them as best you can.

What Does God Say?

Let's go back to the purpose of a spiritual gift. Romans 12:4-6 says, "For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them" (ESV).

And Ephesians 4:15-16 tells us that "speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint which is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love" (ESV).

My Thoughts

We are "in Christ" and no matter what our spiritual gift is, we're to follow Christ's example. The apostle Paul uses the idea of clothing--what we're to "put on" as God's chosen ones. Read Colossians 3:12-17. List the things we're to "put on."

Does it say these things are restricted to certain spiritual "gifts"?

Romans 12:9-21 and 13:1-10 go beyond spiritual gifts to list attributes that should characterize our Christian walk. Describe a few ways these characteristics support or are used with certain spiritual gifts.

Are there any restrictions here on who can or can't do these things?

My Part

• With your lists from Romans 12, 13 and Colossians 3, jot down five or six attributes that seem to fit with or back up your spiritual gift.
• Add two or three that don't appear to relate to your spiritual gift.
• Have you ever been called on to serve or minister beyond your gifting? What happened then?

If you've been tempted to use your spiritual gift as an excuse to avoid ministry, ask God to help you develop His perspective. Make godly character your first priority and opportunities to exercise the gift will come.

Consider memorizing Colossians 3:12-14 for a daily reminder.

Additional Scripture to read:1 John 3:11-18; 1 Peter 4:8-11; Hebrews 13:1-3

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