"Well, Isn't That Special!"

Everyone likes to feel as though they are special. We want others to confirm that we can make a special contribution to special areas of life and ministry. And it’s true – from God’s perspective, every individual is special. In fact, the word “special” is a vernacular term for “holy,” and God has designed every person to be holy as God is holy. But there is also a self-centered (rather than a God-centered) version of feeling special. This is especially true in western culture. I don’t want to get too philosophical but let me just summarize the issue this way (feel free to skip to the next paragraph): Socrates defined the core of western culture with the admonition, “Know thyself.” Self-knowledge in the context of autonomous individuals is the highest value of our western culture. That simply means that understanding ourselves and our potential significance as individuals that exist independently from everyone else (including God) is the final goal of our culture (i.e., “self-actualization”).

If we’re not careful, we can gain understanding and clarity about God’s created purpose for our lives and just turn it into another self-knowing celebration. That said, true “holiness” includes coming to see ourselves and others from God’s perspective, and to appreciate the potential each one has, in a relational, communal context, to reflect the glory of God. In fact, the Bible is clear about God’s distribution of certain “gifts” to human beings. These “gifts” are simply the unique ways God bundles his grace in our lives. Jesus taught that the Father is much better at giving good gifts than we humans (Matthew 7:11). God’s greatest gift to humanity is the person of Jesus Christ (see John 4:10). The person of the Holy Spirit is also described as the gift of the Father (Luke 11:13; Acts 1:4; 2:38; 10:45). Paul looked forward to the opportunity to “impart some spiritual gift” to the believers at Rome (Romans 1:11). Salvation is God’s gift to us (Romans 5:15-17; 6:23; Hebrews 6:4; 1 Peter 3:7). Paul also reminded the Romans that God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable” (11:29).

And then there are the various “gift lists” in Paul’s writings. He refers to the different gifts given to the members of the Body so that they can fulfill their God-purposed function (Romans 12:6-8). And there are the gifts or the “manifestations of the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 1:7; 12:1-7) with the exhortation that we are to “eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit” (14:1) that will enable us to “build up the church” (14:12). “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15). The gift of God’s grace results in certain kinds of ministry (Ephesians 3:7), including the grace of God resting on some individuals who themselves become gifts to the Body of Christ (Ephesians 4:7-16). For that reason, Paul encouraged Timothy, “Do not neglect your gift” (1 Timothy 4:14) but to periodically “fan it into flame” (2 Timothy 1:6-7). God testifies to the Gospel “by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will” (Hebrews 2:4). Indeed, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).

So, other than God demonstrating his grace and glory, why would God distribute gifts to (sinful, self-centered) human beings? Frankly, those gifts (and gifted persons) only have meaning in the context of the bigger picture of the Kingdom of God and the Body of Christ. Gifts are distributed and are to be used for the benefit of others, not so the person with a gift can feel “gifted.” The apostle Peter put it this way: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:10-11). Gifts are to be used as a God-given, grace-filled means to effectively serve others, and in a way that will bring glory to God. The real issue is serving, not gifting. The only way God’s grace-gifts can be meaningful and effective is if they are being used by someone with a humble, God-centered, others-centered servant’s heart. Remember the words of Jesus: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25-28). There is no more gifted person in the universe than Jesus, but he came to serve and to give his life. So it’s really not about us being special or doing something special – it’s about Jesus and his Kingdom and his Bride being special. We have the unique and special opportunity to serve and to give our lives – by the grace and gifts only God can provide.