Gifted To Serve

Did you know that the principles behind diversity, equity and inclusion are also found in the Bible?  Principles such as: 

- Valuing the diversity of gifts of the members in the organization

- Maximizing positive organizational outcomes by members “buying in” and using their gifts for the benefit of the organization, and 

- Ensuring all the gifts within the organization are included to build it and grow it.  

These are all things which Paul exhorted Christians to do as they led transformed lives in service to God (Romans 12: 3-8).  Paul urged Christians to recognize that we were given gifts by God’s grace (including forgiveness and salvation), therefore we should not be prideful about them.  And our Christian service to God is using those gifts to build up each other and the church.  I pray that you will use your gifts in the way God intended… for His purpose and glory.  Amen

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. (Romans 12:3) In his position as an apostle, Paul warns Christians that a life transformed by God’s grace and through faith in Christ will avoid haughtiness, and instead reflect humility.  The reason Christians should have humility is because none of us were saved by our own power. We are saved only because of God’s grace and any gift we may have was given to us by God in His loving grace toward us and for His purpose.

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (Roman’s 12:4-5) We, the church, are the body of Christ.  Paul uses our own physical bodies to illustrate how though we are different, with different gifts, we are to work in unity for the benefit of the body.  Again, we are not to think we are more important than any other part of the body.  Therefore, we don’t operate independently of other members, but in all we do, we recognize that we belong to each other. 

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. (Roman’s 12:6-8) While we may look at someone else’s gift in awe and longing to have what they have, the truth is that God has given us all different gifts. He has given them not because of our merit, but to serve His purposes in the body of Christ.  The key is that we operate in our gift to do what God intended for the edification (building up) of the church and each other, and we do it in the way that is pleasing to Him (generously, diligently, cheerfully). 

How do you demonstrate that you are living a transformed life of righteousness that is set apart and pleasing to God?   Paul says that you begin by recognizing that your gifts are given because of God’s grace, not your greatness.   And that  they are not to be used for your glory (don’t think of yourself more highly than you should), but for His glory and His church.  Finally, we are to be generous in sharing our gifts with others in the body of Christ.  Whatever our gifts, if we have been transformed, we will use the gifts that God has given to each of us individually in faithfulness to Him… and we will be good stewards of what He has given us for the edification of His church and one another.  

Blessings, Rev. Glenn

“…offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” ~ Romans 12:1b-2a