“I don’t have a spiritual gift!” – This isn’t a strange sentence to hear among Christians, but this sentence causes hurt and is even a little frustrating for Christian leaders. The people saying this think that it’s a humble and sincere way of looking at themselves, but if we really dissect it, these are the words of insecurity (tự ti), but also of pride and resistance (chống nghịch). This isn’t because of the feelings those word elicit, but because of the reason, heart, and lack of understanding behind that assertion. And doesn’t the Bible let us know that all Christians have spiritual gifts – “As each has received a gift” (1 Peter 4:10). When you say: “I don’t have a spiritual gift!”, it means that you’re saying what God has said is wrong. And you are are pridefully complaining with no basis in faith that: “God’s not fair. He gives other people spiritual gifts, but not me. Everyone take a look, I don’t have any spiritual gifts, so I can’t do anything at all.”
The truth is that we can’t choose our own spiritual gifts. That’s the work of God (1 Corinthians 12:7-11). Therefore, maybe you don’t have the same spiritual gift that others have – but you do have one. And for people with the same spiritual gift, God gives to them at different levels: some people have 5 talents, some 3 talents, and some 1 talent, but no one, no Christian, can be called “A talent-less Christian”. How could there be when Christians have been made new by the Holy Spirit? From the second you became a believer in God, the Holy Spirit came down to reside in you, and He is the wellspring of every spiritual gift. How could you not have a spiritual gift? All of us have more than 1 spiritual gift. “For 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 empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” (1 Corinthians 12:8-11). Because of these, we become the “storeroom” for the Holy Spirit, bringing His gifts to the world and to those who are around us so many people will be able to know that the source of these spiritual gifts come from above. The Holy Spirit comes down to us, making us become the place where He resides, a “storeroom of grace”. “Not only so, but when we believe in God, we become part of a larger community – the Church, the Body of Christ. But the spiritual gifts that God gives us need to be used to serve and do things that are beneficial to building up the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:15-16). Are you using your spiritual gifts to build up the Body of Christ? Or are you still using them for you own personal benefit? The things God has given us should be firstly used for God! And when you use the spiritual gifts He gave you, you will be able to hear the tender words that all disciples want to hear, “‘Well done, good and faithful servant.[a] You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’” (Matthew 25:21).
To be congratulated. To be given more. To be able to enter into the joy of God. How could we imagine such a feeling! Together to enter into the joy with my God! To see God’s smile, and to smile with Him; to laugh and smile because the things God gave you were offered back up for Him. And when you become a part of the Body of Christ, you will understand that your journey is not just “God and me”, but is “God and us”. And you will share this close and personal spiritual connection with all of the believers all over the world. This strength of the Body of Christ fills us with the hope that, when we perform our part well, the Body of Christ will become stronger and more beautiful.”
“When you become a part of the Body of Christ, you will understand that your journey is not just “God and me”, but is “God and us”. And you will share this close and personal spiritual connection with all of the believers all over the world”. Whether you recognize your spiritual gift or not, whether you are using it for the benefit of God or not, even if you don’t know what your spiritual gift is yet and you are asking God to forgive you or thinking that He hasn’t give you anything, we can all still hear the voice of God calling us today: “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.” (Isaiah 44:1-3). The Holy Spirit, the One who has raised you back to life, wants to fill you with His blessings so that you can use them to benefit the Body of Christ. The question presented before you is: Do you desire the same?
