Spiritual Gift: Giving

Today we are continuing in the spiritual Gifts in the way that makes the most since to me.

The way that makes the most since to me is from 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

1 Corinthians 12:4–6 CSB

Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person.

Different gifts (charismata)

Different ministries (Diakonion)

Different Activities/manifestations (energamaton)

Gifts flows into ministries which shows itself in different activities.

We have looked at the gift of prophecy, service, teaching and Exhortation

Prophecy is the divine enablement to proclaim God’s truth with power and clarity in a timely and culturally sensitive fashion for correction, repentance, or edification. Ability to reveal God’s word. -Chip Ingram

Service is the divine enablement to attach spiritual value to the accomplishment of physical tasks within the Body of Christ. Ability to demonstrate love by meeting practical needs that releases other Christians for direct spiritual ministry. -Chip Ingram

Teaching is the divine enablement to understand and give detailed explanation of biblical truth. It's the ability to search out and validate truth which has been presented. -Chip Ingram

Exhortation is the divine enablement to come alongside someone in need of encouragement to reassure, strengthen, affirm, and challenge those who are discouraged or wavering in their faith. -Chip Ingram

Romans 12:3–8 CSB

For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one. Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith; if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching; if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.

Today we are going to talk about Giving as a motivational gift.

The Gift of Giving

The Gift of Giving is the divine enablement to earn money, manage it well and wisely contribute to the work of the Lord with cheerfulness and liberality. -Chip Ingram

It's the ability to entrust personal assets to others for the furtherance of their ministry.

People with this gift ask this question: “What can I give to meet the needs?”

The word here is to share or to give it's not necessarily money, but primarily it shows up and people's finances, but this is a person with generosity, you notice in Romans 12 led him, who give give it liberally or with Generosity

The word is haploss, that word generosity or liberally. It's the word for having a single eye Focus.

These people don't like the limelight. These people like to give anonymously. These people like to have a single focus. These people want to know what the ROI is on their gift.

They want to know did this, this, this and this happen? and if not I'm gonna give my gift next week somewhere else.

They do not have to be wealthy. This gift is operating the third world. You can have the gift of giving in Haiti and you may not have but two coconuts but you're willing to give one and a half away.

Dangers of the gift of giving

The danger of this gift is there can be a tendency to be proud of it.

As is evidence by this gift was given by Mr. And Mrs. So-and-so. And so and so and here's the plaque for every great gift.

You don't want people to know too much, but you want to know just enough, not that you're proud, but that you're wonderful.

Another danger is overemphasizing material needs to the exclusion of spiritual needs and judging other spiritually by their bank accounts.

Like the other motivational gifts if you have giving as your motivational gifts you see the world through your gift. You see that it is easy for you to make money . It’s easy for you to do stuff. Why isn’t it for everyone else. You must not be a good christian if you don’t… and this is true for all the motivational gifts.

People with giving as a motivational gift can go nuts when they see financial mismanagement because to them, it's just, you know, it's so natural how you ought to operate your life.

How does Giving Manifest?

We are all called to give. giving a portion of our time, our talents, our finances is part of the Christian walk. We give because we are commanded, we give because we want to store up treasures in heaven, we give because it humbles ourselves and helps fight against one of the struggles of live: the love of money. For where your treasure is there your heart is as well.

But that is not what we are talking about.

people with the motivational gift of giving, give. it can show it self through things like Apostleship, Helping, Administration, Faith, Discernment and others.

Is this you?

Giving is this you? Is your gift? Is that your question what can I give to fit the need? Money, time, resources.

No that is OK. As where everyone can encourage but that may not be your gift.

Prophecy, Service, teaching, Encouragement, Giving, Leadership next week.

What is your gift?

What are you doing this week to use your gift.

Bibliography

Ingram, Chip. “How to Discover Your Primary Spiritual Gift.” Living on the Edge, 3 Dec. 2021, https://livingontheedge.org/broadcast/how-to-discover-your-primary-spiritual-gift/?type=broadcast.