Motivational Gifts
Then Moses called Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, everyone whose heart was stirred, to come and do the work. Exodus 36:2
Moses was gifted as a leader, teacher, and a writer; and the men who helped build the Tabernacle were gifted in wood work and metal work. There was a need for both of them and the Tabernacle would not have been completed without everyone’s help! In the same way you and I have gifts that make a difference! This is how Paul described the ministry gifts of the Church:
1 Cor 12:13-27
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body…
15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?
18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.
21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."
22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.
26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
There are not any unnecessary parts on our physical body … and there are not any parts that are more important than the others. If my ear hurts, I hurt all over! If my toe hurts, I can hardly walk! If my stomach cramps really bad, my whole body stays in bed! In the same way, when honor is given for achievements … we feel good all over! And church works the same way!
It is the same Jesus that worships in the music as is in the work of building maintenance! It is the same Holy Spirit who desires to teach the five year olds as He does to minister through the pastor when he is preaching!
So … God the Father, through the working of the Holy Spirit, is leading each of us to do … and to not do … the work of ministry of the church. Have you ever thought about that? How do you know what it is that God wants you to do? How do you know what it is that He doesn’t want you to do?
A great part of that answer comes from a list in Romans which has been called the motivational gifts.
Rom 12:6-9
6 Having 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;
7 or ministry(service), let us use it in our ministering (serving); he who teaches, in teaching;
8 he who exhorts (encourages), in exhortation (encouragement); he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be without hypocrisy …
The list of ministry gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 tells us what we do. The motivational gifts in Romans tell us why we do them! What motivates us?
The first motivational gift listed is the gift of prophecy … and its proper motivation is to be faith! Faith gives us the ability to speak and it should inspire faith in those who hear us! I have heard some prophecies that were judgmental and legalistic and some which inspired faith! The latter is the proper motivation! Build Faith in those who hear! That is the motivation.
The second motivational gift listed is serving … the Greek word is the same one we use for deacon. The word “ministry” is used in some translations but I feel it is overused in its application. Serving is used in most modern translations and the New Living Translation says, “If your gift is serving. Serve them well.” The motivation for serving others is to make sure their needs are met … not ours!
The third motivational gift is teaching. The most important part of teaching is not keeping order in the room, or even teaching the lesson you have prepared, but to help the student learn something helpful which he did not know. That requires preparation, preparation, grace, peace, and self-control!
The fourth motivational gift is exhortation is the gift of encouragement. The apostles renamed a man and we know him primarily by his adopted name of Barnabas.
Acts 4:36
Joses was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement) …
If you are an exhorter, then be encouraged! And encourage others! We need some encouragers in the day in which we live, who will comfort and console the Body of Christ!
The fourth motivational gift is giving! The Bible says that you are motivated to give with simplicity, generously, and with a cheerful heart! Be wise in how you give and be discerning in who you give to, but fulfill your calling and give! If your grumpy when you give your motivation may not be giving … but prayer will help! Give anyway!
The fifth motivational gift is leading. The motivation is diligence. Take responsibility seriously! Those who are called lead tend to see the whole picture in a situation, and they have and idea of how to move from here … to there. Those who want a position of leadership without the responsibility of leadership do a tremendous amount of damage! Be diligent in your leadership!
The sixth motivational gift is Showing Mercy. Acts of kindness! Don’t be a grumpy helper! Be cheerful!
What we need to understand with all of the gifts and callings of God is that it isn’t always what we do as much as how we do it! We need to remember that the world around us, those in the church and outside its walls, will never hear what we know until they see how much we care. John said, “By this will all men know we are his disciples by our love one for the other.”
Love motivates us correctly to Build Faith, Serve Well, Teach Students, Encourage, Be Generous, Be Diligent, Be Cheerful!
9 Let love be without hypocrisy …