The Gift of Giving
By Mike Rule

Spiritual gifts are very misunderstood in the Christian community. Many people try to give people a test to determine a person’s spiritual giftedness. But there is an inherent problem with this. Spiritual gift tests are nothing more than personality tests. A non-Christian, who is dead to God in the spirit, can take these tests and come up with a spiritual gift. That is totally impossible.

Am I refuting the existence of spiritual gifts? Certainly not. However, you cannot test for a spiritual gift. A believer can only demonstrate them. These gifts may be in perfect harmony with a person’s personality, or they may be evidenced totally outside the personality. Spiritual gifts are always an expression of the Jesus that dwells in the believer.

Verses for Reflection

Truly He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:32 (MKJV)

And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, so that He may be with you forever, the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive because it does not see Him nor know Him. But you know Him, for He dwells with you and shall be in you. John 14:16-17 (MKJV)

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him? Luke 11:13 (MKJV)

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  I Corinthians 4:6 (KJVR)

But there are differences of gifts, but the same Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:4 (MKJV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (MKJV)

For I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, that you may be strengthened; Romans 1:11 (MRC)

As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10 (HNV)

Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32 (MKJV)