Christian Living

What is my Spiritual Gift?

by Rachel Jamerson
08/17/16
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There are seven spiritual motivational gifts found in the twelfth chapter of Romans.  In I Corinthians twelve, you will find information on the ministry gifts. If you are a believer in Christ, you have at least one spiritual gift.   


      A spiritual gift is a supernatural ability imparted to a believer by the indwelling Holy Spirit. These gifts are for the purpose of edifying (building up) the body of Christ…believers. 


     Sadly, many believers don’t understand spiritual gifts and have no idea what gift they themselves possess.  This is partially due to the lack of in-depth teaching on the subject.  Another negative that has evolved is the idea that some gifts are of more importance than others.  An even greater problem is the inability of individuals to understand the gifts of their fellow believers. When you understand the individual gifts it will be easy to identify them in yourself and others.  With this knowledge you are armed with the ability to work together as a unit, each supplying what the other lacks. 


There have been many good examples used by others in the attempt to provide a simple explanation of spiritual gifts.  I have chosen to elaborate on the motivational gifts using a skit. The characters represent the individual gifts.  The first scenario represents a group of people possessing the gifts but without an understanding their difference and how they are used.  The second scenario depicts the same situation with mature individuals using their gifts properly in unison.  

 
Synopsis: Sherry has been injured in a fall she is alone in the woods and has a broken leg.  She is discovered by a group of hikers, seven individuals each possessing one of the seven motivational gifts of the Spirit.  What follows is a look at how each person’s gift influences how they attempt to help the injured person.  This is a fictional lighthearted depiction of the varied strengths of each gift.  The idea is to highlight the differences in each gift and how they can work together or in opposition. 

 
The Seven Motivational Gifts of the Spirit. (Characters)
Administration
Prophecy
Teaching
Giving
Exhortation
Mercy
Serving
 
The group arrives on the scene. Sherry is groaning loudly with pain.
A comical scene follows.  
 

Sherry:  "Please help me. I fell off that cliff up there and I think I have broken my leg."  (Groans again)
 
Gift of Mercy:   "Oh you poor thing!  It must hurt something awful!"  (Moves toward the injured person)
 
Service: "Oh dear!  What can we do to help? "
 
Administration:  (Restrains Mercy & Service from approaching,) “Don’t touch her!  We have to go about this the right way.   No one here has any medical training; we need to get her to a doctor!”
 
Teacher: (Interrupts) “The first thing we need to do is examine her to see if anything else is broken.  We don't want to make the situation worse"... (Proceeds to examine injured.)
 
Prophecy:  "You know it's your own fault you are in this predicament!  The sign back there clearly states, "do not climb the cliffs!"   If people would just abide by the rules..."...
 
Exhortation:  “Oh, don't worry. You’ll be alright.  (takes out a cell phone.) I will call an ambulance for you.
 
Sherry:  "NO!! Don’t do that.  I don't have insurance and it will cost a fortune to come all the way out here!"
 
Giving: "Don’t worry about the cost.  I’ll just put it on my credit card. I’ll pay your hospital bill too.  Do you need to borrow a little to pay for your meds?" (Takes cell phone begins to dial)…
  
(Pandemonium ensues as everyone descends on the injured person at once.)
            Mercy- tries to make injured comfortable. 
            Teacher- examines injured.
            Service- tries to put a splint on her leg.
            Prophecy- keeps pointing out the error of the injured ways.
            Exhortation- keeps assuring her she will be fine.
            Giving- loudly instructs the ambulance driver over the phone.
            Administration- Keeps giving instructions that are ignored.
            Sherry cries out - suffering great pain at the hands of her                    would-be rescuers.
           
 Teacher: (Yells at giver). "Don't bring that ambulance out here yet, we have to examine her leg. It might not be broken.  It could just be sprained.  You know a sprain is really painful too and sometimes can take just as long to heal." (Painful examination continues)
 
Mercy: (Responding to the cries of pain from the victim) “I know it must really hurt.” (She begins to cry.)  "I’m so sorry you are suffering like this.  I had a cat one time; she got chewed up by the dog..."
 
Exhortation: "I know this must look bad, but you are going to be fine.  (Slaps her on the back - more pain) "You’re young that leg will heal in no time at all.  I had a broken leg once… "
 
Prophesy: "I don't know if you are going to be fine or not.  You know there are consequences to disobedience.  Maybe next time..."
 
Serving: (Gives up trying to splint the leg and says to Prophesy) "What she needs is help, not a lecture. ( Attempts to move the injured while the teacher is still trying to examine the leg creating more pain.)  Somebody help me get her over here where the ground is level!"
 
Administration:  "Wait a minute!  You can't move her until the leg is splinted!  We need to get organized here..."
 
Sherry: (while everyone is still chattering away - hovering over her.) "What is wrong with you people?!  Can’t you see I’m dying here!!?”
 
All freeze - narrator explains how gifts should be used - everyone working together for the good of the person in need of help.  The scene starts over - this time is done right.
                       
Administration:  "Giver, get the ambulance out here.  Teacher, you help Serving with the splint.  Mercy, get a blanket from the car...she needs to be kept warm while we wait”
 
Exhortation: "Don't worry; we’ll get you to a doctor!  You will be up and about before you know it."
 
Giving:  (Stuffs money in Sherry’s coat) “Here take this $20.00; you might need something when you get to the hospital."
 
Prophecy:  "I will come to the hospital later and explain why the park has rules about climbing.  You know understanding the rules can help prevent painful situations in the future."
 
Sherry:  “Thank you so much.  I don't know what I would have done if you had not happened by this way.”
 
Now try to imagine the injured person as someone in need of ministry.  Can you understand why sometimes the actions of those in ministry may be misinterpreted? Also, why some appear to be aggressive and not appreciative of the gifts of others? All gifts are necessary, unique, and complement one another.   What’s your gift?