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Gifts, functions, leadership

I exercise my gifts

God generously gifts us as believers with a variety of gifts.  It is beautiful to see the many gifts in the Church work together and complement each other.  Each gift is significant and beneficial.  These gifts are not for the benefit of ourselves, but for the benefit of others, for the benefit of the Church.  The purpose of the gift is never to make me look good but to be of service to others.  The motivation for using our gifts to serve others should always be love.  

1 Corinthians 12:27-31 CSB Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, leading, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But desire the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.

A gift is just what it says, it is something you do not earn or attain for yourself but is given by someone to you. God is the one that gives these gifts, and we are the ones who receive them in faith.

Peter also speaks to our attitude when we serve or exercise our gifts.  He inspires us to use them well.  He encourages us to serve wholeheartedly and with all our strength. 

1 Peter 4:10‭-‬11 NLT‬‬ God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.‬‬‬

Similarly, Paul encourages the believers in Rome to serve with excellence:

Romans 12:5-10 CSB in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith; if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching;  if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another.