1 Corinthians 7:7 (RSV)
I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own special gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.
Romans 12:5-10 (RSV)
... so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the
grace given to us, let us use them:
- prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
- service / support, in our serving;
- knowledge / learning / understanding /, in his teaching;
- encouragement / exhortation / he who exhorts, in his exhortation;
- generosity / hospitality / he who contributes, in liberality;
- helpfulness / assistance /he who gives aid, with zeal;
- compassion / mercifulness / kindness / he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (RSV)
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
- To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and
- to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,
- to another faith by the same Spirit,
- to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
- to another the working of miracles,
- to another prophecy,
- to another the ability to distinguish between spirits,
- to another various kinds of tongues,
- to another the interpretation of tongues.
All these are inspired by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
Ephesians 4:11-12 (RSV)
And his gifts were that
- some should be apostles,
- some prophets,
- some evangelists,
- some pastors and
- teachers,
to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,...
1 Peter 4: 10-11
As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
- whoever speaks, as one who utters oracles of God;
- whoever renders service, as one who renders it by the strength which God supplies;
in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Notice that in 1 Corinthians 12, Pauls distinguishes between varieties of gifts, service and working. No matter what the category, all of them are for building up the body of Christ. Not primarily for personal and individual use, even if the "holder" is inevitably blessed by their application for the common good.
The Scriptures remind us often that God is a giver, and always a giver of good things. He gives to bad people just as generously as to good ones (Matt. 5:45). Paul told the Romans (ch 1:21) that the first step to depravity was this: " for although they knew God they did not honor him as God
or give thanks to him,"
John 3:16 for God so loved the world that
He gave his only beloved Son...
Romans 3:23 since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, they are
justified by his grace as a gift,
Ephesians 4:7 But
grace was given to each of us according to the measure of
Christ’s gift.
Romans 5:17 If, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive
the abundance of grace and
the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but
the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 Corinthins 2:12 Now
we have received ... the Spirit which is from God,
1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God,
who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
And James reminds us (ch 1:17)
Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
So (1 Thessalonians 5:18)...
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Psalm 118:1
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever!
