I Corinthians 12:7 – “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”
People ask me, “Preacher, how do I know what my spiritual gift is? Did God really give me one?” All believers have a special gift the Holy Spirit has given to be used for the benefit of the body of Christ. How do you know your gift? I suggest doing three things. First, ask yourself, “What brings me joy?” God gives us a gift and a dose of joy when we use our gifts for the body of Christ. So look at yourself and ask, “When I do this for others, what brings me joy?” This might be an indication of your place of giftedness. Second indicator, how do you react in different circumstances? When a fellow Christian has a financial problem, like a job loss, are you first offering sympathy, at his door trying to give him a listening ear and shoulder to cry on? If so, you might have the gift of mercy. If your first reaction is to offer to help pay his rent or start looking in the “job wanted” section of the paper and helping him with a resume, your spiritual gift might be leadership or organization. If you start taking the family meals, your gift might be service. Third, just start “trying on” different areas of service in the church. Remember, a spiritual gift is given to believers for the common good of the church. So jump in, try one area then another and then another. Somewhere, one task, one place, one area of service, will bring you joy and satisfaction and energy. That is how you discover your giftedness.
People ask me, “Preacher, how do I know what my spiritual gift is? Did God really give me one?” All believers have a special gift the Holy Spirit has given to be used for the benefit of the body of Christ. How do you know your gift? I suggest doing three things. First, ask yourself, “What brings me joy?” God gives us a gift and a dose of joy when we use our gifts for the body of Christ. So look at yourself and ask, “When I do this for others, what brings me joy?” This might be an indication of your place of giftedness. Second indicator, how do you react in different circumstances? When a fellow Christian has a financial problem, like a job loss, are you first offering sympathy, at his door trying to give him a listening ear and shoulder to cry on? If so, you might have the gift of mercy. If your first reaction is to offer to help pay his rent or start looking in the “job wanted” section of the paper and helping him with a resume, your spiritual gift might be leadership or organization. If you start taking the family meals, your gift might be service. Third, just start “trying on” different areas of service in the church. Remember, a spiritual gift is given to believers for the common good of the church. So jump in, try one area then another and then another. Somewhere, one task, one place, one area of service, will bring you joy and satisfaction and energy. That is how you discover your giftedness.
– Dr. Tim Thompson