It may seem like an unrelated issue, but do you know what
spiritual gifts God has bestowed on you? There are classes and profile
instruments designed to help church members discover their spiritual gifts.
Examples of spiritual gifts are listed in Rom. 12:6-13;
1
Cor. 12:1-13; and Eph.
4:11-16. But these are not intended to be exhaustive lists of all spiritual
gifts. The main principle is to refuse to allow anyone to make you think
service or charity always means a certain thing. Everyone’s gifts and talents
are different. You don’t have to sing in the
nursing home. Maybe you’d rather offer a day of free babysitting to a harried
mother you know. Look for things that appeal to you, that you are good at, and
that you are affirmed in doing.
On the other hand, when an emergency arises, God enables any
Christian to at least attempt to be all things to all people. You may not have
a particular gift of hospitality, but when someone breaks down in front of your
house in a rainstorm, they really won’t mind if your living room is messy, and they
won’t expect you to be prepared for company. They just need someplace to wait for
the tow truck. Always remember to
be as wise as a serpent as well as harmless as a dove. This is a wicked world.
Keep on paying attention and don’t put yourself at unnecessary risk.
Conclusion
“Charity.” Are there different reactions to this word now?
Why or why not? What is charity really? It’s love. It’s agape,
the kind of unconditional, selfless love God has for us, and puts in us for
others. Right now, today, there is probably a service God is asking you to do
for someone, and a service God is asking you to accept from someone. Are you
paying attention?
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