Romans 12:3-8 “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. (4) For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, (5) so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. (6) Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; (7) or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; (8) he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”
1 Corinthians 12:12-18 “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. … (14) For in fact the body is not one member but many. (15) If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? (16) And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? (17) If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? (18) But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.”
The New Testament reveals three separate categories of gifts that are given to the church. The first category of gifts, are what we call the function gifts. The reason that they are called function gifts is because these gifts are given to each one in the body, so that they can fulfil their specific function as a member of the body of Christ. In the above quoted passages of scripture the Holy Spirit gives us some insight into these particular gifts. The main point that we need to understand with regards to these gifts, is to view them as a part of the human body. In the human body, the ear cannot fulfil the role of the eye. In other words an ear can only hear, for that is its function. Each member in the body of Christ, without exception, has been given a specific function to perform in the body. God is the one who decides which gift He gives to each one, and He then places the individual in the body to perform that function. God also then gives the individual the grace and measure of faith that they need to operate in their gift. One, who has been made an eye in the body, cannot go to God and ask Him to change His mind and make them an ear. The body of Christ would become deformed very quickly, if each member could decide what they wanted to be, and then still change their minds when they had had enough of that particular role. God decides what we are, and we are to then fulfil our role in that. The apostle Paul, as quoted in the above quoted passage from Romans, lists seven different gifts, but there are many more listed in scripture. We will not explore these gifts any further in this teaching, other than to say that it is vital for every believer to find out what gifting they have received, and begin to function in that gift.
Michael E.B. Maher
Comments