Ephesians 4:7-8: But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."
Without a doubt the Word of God emphasizes the grace of God. Your relationship with God, and every facet of that relationship, is permeated with the grace of God. We deserve nothing, yet God's unmerited favor has been lavished upon the sons of God.
These two verses lead up to Paul's declaration in verse eleven of what is commonly called the five fold ministry. God gave ministry gifts to the church. He gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers as gifts to the church.
Not all believers are called to the five fold ministry, but Paul clearly states in verse seven to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. Surely, that can refer to the grace to live victoriously in Christ. But, I believe it also refers to the grace to minister to others. God wants every believer involved in serving others.
Paul teaches that every believer is a member of the body of Christ, and every believer has a different function to fulfill.
Look at Romans 12 beginning with verses 4-8. 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 who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Some teachers call these seven gifts the motivational gifts. And some teach that each believer has one of these motivational gifts. It is what helps to make you tick in God. In one of these areas God has given you grace to minister.
A believer would move to some degree in all of these areas. In I Corinthians 14 Paul encourages all believers to prophesy. All believers are to serve. Jesus came as a servant, and we are to emulate his example. Not all of us will teach in a formal setting, but every believer will teach others by example. Every believer should work to encourage others. We should all tithe and give and contribute to the needs of others. Not all are in a leadership position, but if nothing else, we must all govern our own lives and our families. And, we should consistently show mercy. The Bible teaches that judgment is without mercy, to the one who shows no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. I, for one, do not want judgment without mercy.
Churches are usually in need of volunteers to fill various functions in the church. One teacher pointed out, that one reason some very spiritual people do not succeed in certain positions in the church, is that they are placed in a position that does not correspond to his or her motivational gift. If your motivational gift is encouragement, then you may fail, if you are given the responsibility to organize the Christmas banquet.
I think my dad is a perfect example of someone with the motivational gift of service. He has been retired for almost twenty years. In the years since his retirement, he has sown thousands of hours into serving the body of Christ through practical service. Just this week he has been busy at his church helping to prepare the church facilities for the annual Christmas program. For years he helped in the kitchen on Wednesday night in preparation for the weekly fellowship supper. He also helped prepare scores of other meals as well. He has served as an usher for many, many years. He and my mom go to church early every Sunday morning, so he can prepare the things that the ushers will need in order to properly minister to the people.
Now, if the church leaders asked my dad to teach an adult Bible study class, he would probably not do a great job. He is smart enough to teach the class, and God is certainly big enough to anoint him for the task. But service is the area where he finds joy, contentment and satisfaction in God. And I believe that is because God has given him the motivational gift of service. That is what makes him tick in God. Practical service is the place where my dad finds the grace of God in his life.
What is your motivational gift? Where do you find joy, contentment and peace in God? If you have no idea, then ask God to help you to see what it is, and then develop in that area. Think about what you enjoy doing.
Sometimes our view of God is so twisted, that we think if we enjoy something, it must not be God. We wrongly think that God would only ask us to do things that we don't enjoy. Perhaps the reason you enjoy doing certain things is because God has given you the grace to operate in that area?
I get excited about encouraging people. I love to speak words of encouragement. I love to speak positive words to others to inspire them to believe, that they can accomplish great things for God. So obviously, I believe my motivational gift is encouragement.
Consequently, I want to encourage you to discover in God what motivates you. I want to challenge you to begin to develop in that area. Allow your life to bless others. Find that place of grace in God, where you can invest yourself in his body with joy and contentment.
Nothing is quite as contagious as joy. Let's allow the world to see the church working together in love with each member enjoying his or her service to God.
Wayne L. Williams
wayne@fotwm.org