God calls us to use the “ordinary” gifts that He has given us, cheerfully, for the good of others and for His own glory.

Scripture teaches that when Christ ascended, “he gave gifts” to all His people (Eph. 4:8). These gifts were given to strengthen and build up the church, the body of Christ. Some of the gifts were revelatory gifts, which were needed before the New Testament canon was completed. We have God’s inerrant, eternal Word for His people. Now we do not need “extraordinary,” revelatory gifts. Most of God’s gifts in Scripture are “ordinary.” Every believer has at least one God-given gift, though most have two or more. Moreover, all God-given gifts are to be used to serve the body of Christ, not to build ourselves up (1 Cor. 14:4).

We will focus on the seven gifts that Paul lists in Romans 12:3–8. Significantly, however, Romans 12 begins with an exhortation to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God” (v. 1). One way that we do this is by using our gifts to serve Christ and His church. This requires humility. Paul begins this section with the exhortation to everyone “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think” (v. 3). In Philippians 2, Paul uses Jesus as an example of humility. Humility is the mark of a servant, and God’s people must use their God-given gifts humbly.

The first gift that Paul lists is “prophecy” (Rom. 12:6). It is unclear in this text whether “prophecy” here refers to an extraordinary, revelatory gift, or to proclaiming (preaching or teaching) the Word of God. John Calvin, along with many others, argued that it simply referred to proclaiming God’s Word. Most likely, in Paul’s day, before the canon of Scripture was closed, “prophecy” here refers to authoritative, divine revelation that was given to the early church. Today, the canon is closed. No one is to add to it. The Bible is the sole infallible source of authority given by God. Preachers and teachers today are to proclaim to others what God has revealed in His Word.

It is significant that prophecy heads the list. The preaching of the Word of God is God’s way to bring sinners to repentance. As Paul writes, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17). Paul similarly wrote to the church in Galatia, “Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?” (Gal. 3:2). Preaching is central to God’s plan of salvation.

Second, Paul lists the gift of service: “if service, in our serving” (Rom. 12:7). In one way, all are called to serve the Lord and one another. Some, however, have the gift of serving. The Greek word for “servant” is diakonos, from which we get our English word deacon. In the New Testament, deacons were set apart for serving God’s church and His people in tangible ways (see Acts 6). Yet others also have the gift of serving. A precious saint in our church, who is now with the Lord, would often come to the church during the week and look for ways to serve. She would straighten the hymnals in the pew racks, dust, sometimes vacuum—just doing whatever she could to serve the church. She also called others on their birthdays and sang to them. She had the gift of service. Although what she did during the week was unknown to most of the congregation, she joyfully served Christ and His church.

Read More