Motivating Spiritual Gifts

About a year and a half ago I took a test administered by my church that is based on these verses.  The test is designed to help us identify, interpret, and apply those gifts which God has chosen specifically for each of us.  It was really interesting. 
 

Romans 12:3-8(NKJV)

3For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 

4For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 

5so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 

6Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 

7or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 

8he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Here is how my scores turned out.  The higher the number the stronger that gift.

Admin  77%  

Exhort  19%

Give     82%

Mercy   5%

Perceive  70%

Serve   61%

Teach   73%

Isn't it interesting how God makes us all different and yet equips us with the strengths and gifts we need to all be effective together? 

"...I have tested you in the furnace of affliction."

 

Isaiah 48:10(NKJV)

10    Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;     I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

How can that be loving some would ask?  Well the truth is that somethings we can only learn through the trials of life.  If there was another way I'm sure God would take it but there isn't. 

So how can this be loving?  Easy.  If it is a lesson we need to learn then it is loving to teach it to us in whatever way is necessary. 

Book of Balance!

Isaiah 53:12(NKJV)

12    Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,     And He shall divide the spoil with the strong,     Because He poured out His soul unto death,     And He was numbered with the transgressors,     And He bore the sin of many,      And made intercession for the transgressors.

Ran across a verse today that once again reminded me that we have to take the Bible in total.  Not pick and chose.  The Bible is a book of balance.

Here we have Isaiah talking about Jesus.  "And He (Jesus) shall divide the spoil with the strong".  Well doesn't that contradict the New Testament where we are told that the meek and poor will inherit the earth? 

Something to ponder isn't it? 

How Far Should We Pursue those who Refuse To Believe?

Isaiah 46:12-13(NKJV)

12    “Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted,      Who are far from righteousness:

13    I bring My righteousness near, it shall not be far off;     My salvation shall not linger.     And I will place salvation in Zion,      For Israel My glory.

As I have written in the past, I think we spend way to much time trying to talk people into being Christians who have no interest whatsoever in doing so. 

I think this verse gives a good description of how God handles it.  He doesn't chase them down and beat them over the head with it does He?  Nope.  God says He "brings it near".  That indicates that the stubborn and hard hearted have to make an effort to draw near to God.

In addition God let's them know that they don't have forever to change their minds.  I was going to say they don't have forever to make their choice but that would be incorrect because we are talking here about people who have already made a choice and God is just offering them the opportunity to change their minds.

"I don't care what anyone thinks" - Is that Scriptural?

Should we care what other think? 

Isaiah 51:7-8(NKJV)

7    “Listen to Me, you who know righteousness,      You people in whose heart is My law:     Do not fear the reproach of men,     Nor be afraid of their insults.

8    For the moth will eat them up like a garment,     And the worm will eat them like wool;     But My righteousness will be forever,     And My salvation from generation to generation.”

Seems pretty clear to me.  Too many people let the fear of what others think limit their lives when the truth is that what others think of you is irrelevant.  The only question that matter in my opinion is this.  What does God think of me?  In other words, am I right with God?

If the answer is yes than you are good to go in my opinion! 

"If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved,…"

I have always loved the Parable of the Talents.  The theme that God has given us many gifts and talents which we need to us for God's glory or risk losing them. 

It's the risk losing them part that many people seem to have trouble with.  It just doesn't fit that loving Kumbaya image of Jesus that some people have.  Here is the passage I am talking about.  

Matthew 25:24-30(NKJV)

24“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 

25And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’

26“But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 

27So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 

28So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

29‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 

30And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Now couple that with the concept that we don't all get equal rewards in Heaven.  While salvation is based on faith and is free to everyone our rewards in Heaven are based on our service to God. 

Now the Kumbaya folks really have issues.  Not only was Jesus mean and a name caller in the previous verse, they now find out that God isn't "fair" in their opinion.

My suggestion is that we look to Scripture for our answer.  My experience has been that when you see just a single verse or two that form the complete basis for a belief I think that belief is suspect.  However when you run across common themes that appear in multiple books in the Bible you can have much more confidence in your interpretation.

In previous writings I have offered examples of verses to support the theme.  In that spirit let me add a couple more verses here.  

1 Corinthians 3:8(NKJV)

8Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15(NKJV)

11For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 

12Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 

13each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 

14If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 

15If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Paul spells it out pretty clearly doesn't he?  The person will still be saved but will suffer loss based on poor performance.   Isn't that essentially the same thing the Parable of the Talents is saying?  

"...as much as depends on you…"

I love what this Scripture acknowledges.

Romans 12:18(NKJV)

18If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 

It isn't always possible to live in peace.  There comes a time when the only choice is to fight.  I believe that is what this Scripture is saying.