6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;
7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching;
8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
V. 6 - “Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us” - There is a common belief that says there are no two identical snowflakes. (That one might be hard to disprove.) However, look at the landscapes around us - what a multitude of beauty. Consider how many thousand species of birds, or snakes, or fish, or insects - all different. Look into the cosmos, what do you see? Billions of stars, maybe billions of galaxies. Want to be amazed? Look at some of the photos of galaxies taken by the Hubble Telescope. Or, you can sit down at a junction in a shopping mall and watch the people go by. God has created a vast diversity of life on earth, stars in the sky, planets in the solar system. Why would you think God has made each of His believers automatons. We are not identical robots, programmed to follow the same program.
When you are in church, does every person with you look the same, sound the same? God has provided each of us with a gift. There are a variety of gifts, which God has provided to match our personality and life experiences. These variations are used by God so that we can minister and help others that may have been going through similar situations. The gifts are given to ‘build up the church’
“each of us is to exercise them accordingly” - A gift for each of us which is to be used to serve Him. There is more than one list of gifts in scripture. (See: 1 Cor. 12:8-10; 12:28; Rom. 12:6-8; Eph. 4:11) These gifts are not for your personal aggrandizement. They are to be used to strengthen and instruct the church. The common theme for all the gifts is: Display your gift by using it. No one has a lamp and hides it. (Matt.5:15-16)
| 1 Cor 12:8-10 | 1 Cor 12:28 | Rom 12:6-8 | Eph 4:11 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisdom Knowledge Faith Healing Miracles Prophecy Distinguish Spirits Tongues Interpretation of Tongues |
Apostles Prophets Teachers Miracles Healings Helps Administration Tongues |
Prophecy Service Teaching Exhortation Giving Leadership Mercy |
Apostles Prophets Evangelism Pastors Teachers |
There are seven gifts listed below, to be exercised accordingly:
“if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith” - Prophecy is direct revelation from God, essentially speaking for God and interpreting His will for man. The gift of prophecy is different from the preaching and teaching gifts. Implied here is to admonish and reprove the believing body, to denounce prevailing sins and to call to repentance. The gift of prophecy can be used to warn us when we appear to be going off the tracks, to call us back from our errant ways, to show us we need to confess, repent, and return to the gospel of Jesus and God, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
It can also be in the sense of a ‘seer’, looking into the future and communicating the declarations of God. I am not sure this is a main function of prophecy for the New Testament church. It cannot be ruled out however.
V. 7 - “if service, in his serving” - Service in Greek is the same word as ‘deacon’, a person who attends to another’s needs (See: 1 Tim. 3:8-13). The idea is this a a gift of ministry (doing things for others) and not a title or office. Paul does note in 1 Timothy there are people who are called to serve the church, and the qualifications for these people are similar to those of ‘Elders’.
“He who teaches, in his teaching” - One of the essential gifts of the church. A teacher takes the word of God - scripture - and helps other believers see how to become disciples. Jesus gave the ‘Great Commandment’, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matt. 28:19-20) Note: Make them disciples by teaching them His commandments. A teacher is not making things up, but taking scripture (whether Old or New Testament writings) and pulling out essential truths for guiding our behavior.
V. 8 - “He who exhorts, in his exhortation ” - The gift of motivating and encouraging. It might be thought of as a cheerful and encouraging aspect of prophesying. (See “prophecy” in verse 6, above.) I am reminded of a football coach making half-time adjustments. He is prophesying when he warns them to tackle better. He is exhorting when encouraging them to continue the good plays made in the first half. No one wants to hear criticism. “You’re doing it wrong,” is negative, but it highlights what needs to be fixed. “That’s much better. Continue working on it, and you will see improvement.” This encouragement will help me to succeed. This same type of encouragement is necessary when building disciples.
“He who gives, with liberality” - Who would guess giving is a gift from God, on a par with prophecy, or being an apostle, or teaching, or tongues? We know God gives liberally. He is not parsimonious. (See: 1 Cor. 15:38; 1 Thess. 4:8; 1 Tim. 6:13; Jam. 1:5.)
“He who leads, with diligence” - Leaders are not to be lackadaisical. (1 Tim. 3:1-13; 2 Tim. 2:15; Heb. 4:10; 1 Pet. 1:10, 15)
“He who shows mercy, with cheerfulness” - If mercy is done grudgingly is it mercy? If it under compulsion, will it last, will it be withdrawn later.
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