It’s tempting to focus on one aspect of church involvement closed to women rather than rejoice over the hundreds of ways we can and should be serving. If I am not a pastor, does that mean my service means less? Not so, according to Paul, who teaches us to take joy in working hard for God in every way he has gifted us, for the benefit of the body and to God’s glory.

I am a woman with gifts. God has given me gifts to serve others, gifts to love others. But I haven’t always thought or lived with that conviction.

When I became a Christian one of the first things I began to learn about was spiritual gifts. Prior to becoming a Christian anything I was talented in was really for me and about me. So I was academic—it was to get good grades. I was athletic—it was to exercise to feel better or look good. Whatever it was, it was for me.

When I joined my church I was given a list of ways I could serve. But I did not initially respond with eagerness. I remember my friend telling a worship pastor that I could sing. “No!” I pleaded. “Don’t make me sing!” Then one Sunday a pastor announced a need for children’s ministry. I had time to serve in this area, but again I just wasn’t all that excited because the commitment would take away from “my time” in the service.

As I grew in Christ and my understanding of the church, ministry, service, and love it became increasingly evident that my gifts weren’t about me at all. I began to develop a theology of service and a conviction, thanks to the apostle Paul’s example, to count any gain as loss and rubbish compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ (Philippians 3:7-8).

Piper on Spiritual Gifts

In 1981, John Piper preached an instructive sermon on spiritual gifts that explains my conviction. He shares:

If you were reading through the New Testament, the first place you would run into the term “spiritual gift” is Romans 1:11, 12. . . . Writing to the church at Rome, Paul says, “I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” The translation “impart to you some spiritual gift” is misleading because it sounds like Paul wants to help them have a gift, but the text actually means that he wants to give them the benefit of his gifts. “I long to see you, that I may use my gifts to strengthen you.”

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