The Importance of Spiritual Gifts

When was the last time you considered your spiritual gifts? When you think about them, are you quick to recognize they were given to you by Christ for the edification, equipping and encouragement of the church, or were you tempted to think you somehow earned your spiritual gifts by way of education or experience? Did you recognize your spiritual gifts have to do with Christian unity, or are you tempted to covet another’s gift? How you answered these questions is important. The Bible teaches us that we’ve received spiritual gifts in order to benefit others in the body of Christ.

               In his letter to the church in Ephesus the apostle Paul makes it clear that Christ “gave gifts to men” (Eph. 4:7-8). Paul alludes to Psalm 68, particularly verses 7-18 that describe God’s victorious march to His temple in Jerusalem. This first major movement of the psalm comes to a crescendo when God ascends on high “receiving gifts among men” (v. 18). Significantly, Paul switches the imagery of God receiving gifts to Christ giving gifts.

               Christ “gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, “to equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Eph. 4:12). The apostles were men who had been with Jesus during his earthly ministry, and who gave us the New Testament. Paul is included as an apostle because the Lord had met him on the Damascus road (Acts 9:1-19). The New Testament prophets were men who acted out and spoke the word of the Lord (see Acts 11:28; 21:1-14). Evangelists share the good news of the gospel (see Acts 21:8). And shepherds and teachers faithfully lead the church of God and proclaim the word of God (1 Pet. 5:1-4).

               There are many different kinds of gifts that God gives His people (see, for example, 1 Cor. 12:8-10, 28-30; Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Pet. 4:11). We should help one another recognize our gifts and encourage one another to use them for the edification of the church. Our gifts are “for building up the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:12). Even though we already have unity in the Spirit (vv. 4-5), we must strive to “attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God” (v. 13). We must reach toward “mature manhood” (v. 13) by knowing and loving God and His Word, and knowing and loving one another. And we must try to attain “to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (v. 13).

               Such striving is important. It keeps us from stunting our spiritual growth. If we don’t mature in our faith we will be deceived “by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes” (Eph. 4:14). But if we strive toward maturity, by making use of the means of grace, we will grow in “speaking the truth in love” (v. 15). This kind of speaking bears radical fruit. It makes us “grow up in every way…into Christ” (v. 15). Think of it! We’re to grow up in every way. Thankfully, it is Christ who “makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love” (v. 16).

               But we have a part to play too. Whether we teach a Bible study, lead the children’s choir, prepare meals for special events, open our home for a neighborhood prayer group, or mentor a younger woman in the faith, we are to make sure we are “working properly” (v. 16). In other words, each church member is to use his or her Christ-given gifts, and speak the truth in love, so that there will be unity and sound doctrine and mature believers in our churches.

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Take a moment to consider your spiritual gifts. (If you don’t know what they are, ask another church member or your pastor to help you determine them.) Then take a few minutes to give thanks to God for giving you these gifts. Ask Him to help you use them to edify, encourage and equip other believers. Confess any belief that you earned your gifts in some way, or any envy that you have towards another’s gift. Finally, watch for opportunities to use your gifts in your local church body and beyond. “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace…in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 4:10-11).

Sarah Ivill (ThM, Dallas Theological Seminary) is a Reformed author, wife, homeschooling mom, Bible study teacher, and conference speaker who lives in Matthews, North Carolina, and is a member of Christ Covenant Church (PCA). To learn more, please visit www.sarahivill.com.