Studying a gift of the Spirit: seeing one truly at work around you

In the Church, some teach with clarity, others welcome with warmth, others serve quietly, others pray with power, others organize with talent. Paul says these abilities are gifts of the Spirit, distributed for the good of all. This quest invites you to open your eyes: read 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 and spot a gift at work around you.

What it looks like in your day

Read the passage slowly. Paul lists some gifts: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues, interpretation. He insists on unity: the same Spirit, the same Lord, the same God.

Notice what is said. Three points stand out: diversity (there are several gifts), the unity of the source (the same Spirit), the purpose ("to profit withal," that is, for the common good).

Observe around you. In your church, your group, your family: who does what in a remarkable way? Who teaches, comforts, discerns, encourages, cares for, welcomes, intercedes, organizes? Which gift do you really see at work? Choose one, a concrete one.

Write down your observation. "I see in Sophie a gift of encouragement: every time she talks to someone, they leave better off."

Give thanks for this gift. To God first. Then to the person, if possible: "What you do is a real gift."

Ask which gift you can serve with. Without comparing: "What has God given me for the good of others?" The answer is often found in what you do easily, with joy, and that helps.

Christians do not all understand certain gifts in the same way. This quest does not settle those debates: it invites you to recognize what God is concretely doing among you, and to rejoice in it.

If you are in a hurry, read only verses 4 to 7 and name one gift. If you are shy, you don't have to talk about your own gift. If you think you don't have one, ask friends: they often see what you don't.

What the Bible says

Here is Paul's passage:

“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.”

Notice verse 7: "The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." A gift is a service, not a title. It is given by grace, "as he will." Peter says the same thing in simple terms (1 Peter 4:10): each one should minister the gift received to one another. And Paul details elsewhere the diversity of gifts according to the grace given (Romans 12:6-8).

Pitfalls to avoid

Ranking the gifts. Spectacular gifts are not more precious than discreet ones. Paul stresses the importance of the members that seem the weakest.

Comparing yourself. "I don't have a gift as visible as theirs" is a mistake. Everyone is useful.

Boasting. A gift is received. It is not a trophy.

Setting believers against each other over gifts. The debates are real in the history of the Church. Stay humble and charitable.

Ignoring love. Paul places love above all the gifts (1 Corinthians 13). Without it, a gift is just noise.

Today, read 1 Corinthians 12:4-11. Spot a gift at work around you, and thank God for it.