SPIRITUAL GIFTS (16)
The gifts we are discussing in this series are the Spiritual Gifts from Romans 12:3-8:
- Rom 12:3-8
- 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body , and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. NIV
- Do you have a deep desire to see God’s work advance?
- Do you have an eye for excellence?
- Do you daydream about what churches, missions, and Christian organizations could accomplish if they had enough money?
- Do you feel a burden when persons involved on the front lines of God’s kingdom work share their financial needs?
- Has God blessed you with an ability to make money or be content with a simple lifestyle?
If your answer to any of these questions is “Yes”, then God may have given you the gift of giving
God gives us spiritual gifts to increase our joy, not to make us miserable! You can be assured that if God has given you the gift of giving, He has also given you the ability either (1) To make money or (2) to enjoy a simple lifestyle (or maybe both). THE giver (Jesus) always gives the “giver” both the gift of giving and the gift to give! The tithe is a minimum Christian responsibility
God expects 10 percent of our income to be returned to Him through our church to acknowledge that He is the owner of everything.
- –Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse , that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
- –I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the LORD Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the LORD Almighty. (Mal. 3:10-12) NIV
•The person with the gift of giving will give more and expect less
–They go beyond the Christian responsibility of giving a tithe.
•Their motives are pure
•They are ready and willing to give of their finances to see that a project is accomplished
•This person will usually make personal sacrifices in order to give a large amount of money
•It is a God-given drive on the inside to give
•They want their gift to be of high quality and used in a worthwhile manner.
•They are more likely to give to ministries or projects than to individuals.
•They are not usually a “soft touch” but wait for projects and needs that really make a difference.
- They are alert to needs that others overlook that really make a difference –Vacations – Clothes – Vehicles – Equipment–Medicine – Gas Money – Money for Repairs–Food – and so on
“Too good,” “too expensive”, and “good enough for the church” are not in their vocabulary. They have a heart for missions. They sometimes misinterpret the desire to give to missions as a “call” to the mission field. If a person gives to 10 missionaries, he should be sure God is calling him before he stops supporting them so he can go himself.
In addition to my own material I have included quotes from the following:
- C. Peter Wagner “Your Spiritural Gifts”
- Gordon Lindsay “All About the Gifts of the Spirit”
- Adult Education and Discipleship Ministries – FBC – Garland “Gifts are for Giving”
- Biblesoft Libraries
- Sandy Trice
- David Francis
Today's Word From God 