Motivational Gifts
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There are several passages in the Bible that give lists of spiritual gifts. In this first section, we will focus on “drives” or motivational gifts. Your motivational gift will tell you the reason WHY you will serve in ministry in the body of Christ. It will not limit the ways that you may serve.
Remember: Your Motivational Gift does not dictate WHAT you will do, but will be the God-given power and desire behind the WHY you do anything that you do.
Have you ever created something you were especially proud of? Working into the early hours of the morning, fired by a vision of the final product....Something inside all of us responds pleasurably to the process of creating, the energy of the doing, the satisfaction of the finished product. That something is modeled after the divine. God created you and me in His image.[1]
There are actually seven (7) motivational gifts listed in Romans 12:4-8
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Motivational Gifts |
(1) Prophecy |
(2) Ministry/Serving |
(3) Teacher |
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(4) Exhorting |
(5) Giving |
(6) Leadership |
(7) Mercy |
Rom 12 (v. 4) For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function....
Prophecy - someone speaking forth the message and counsel of God, convicts you of sin, sees things in terms of right or wrong. Those with the motivational gift of prophecy are the "seers" or "eyes" of the body.[2] They have insight, foresight, and act like watch dogs in the church.
Ministry/Serving - to render any kind of service, not especially person centered, meets practical needs of the institution. Those with the motivational gift of serving are the "hands" of the body.[2] They are highly motivated doers and may tend to over commit, but find joy in serving.
Teaching - the ability to explain clearly the Word of God and to effectively apply that truth to our lives. Those with the motivational gift of teaching are the "mind" of the body.[2] They delight in research to validate the truth and love to study.
Exhortation - literally someone beside you with the special ability to encourage and to re-assure members of the body of Christ. Those with the motivational gift of encouragement are the "mouth" of the body.[2] Like cheerleaders, they encourage other believers and are positive.
Giver - good stewards of money, the special ability to cheerfully give material resources, uses money as a tool to increase the kingdom for God’s glory. Those with the motivational gift of giving are the "arms" of the body.[2] They are excited by the prospect of blessing others.
Leadership - the special ability to set goals in accordance with God’s purpose for the future and to communicate those goals to others in such a way that they voluntarily and harmoniously work together to accomplish those goals for the glory of God. Those with the motivational gift of leadership are the "head" of the body.[2]
Mercy - the special ability to feel genuine empathy and compassion for individuals who suffer, and to translate that compassion into cheerfully done deeds that reflect Christ’s love. Those with the motivational gift of mercy are the "heart" of the body.[2]
Now that we have briefly covered the seven (7) motivational gifts, it is time to discuss the ministry gifts on the next webpage.
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Whatever the gift or motivation that we have, it should be used to serve the Lord in a labor of love. All will not be called to serve in the same way, but by doing what is enjoyable to us, because that is the God that we serve.
The proclamation of the great gospel message is the work of the disciples of Christ. Some will labor for this in one way, and others will carry another branch of the work, as the Lord calls and directs them individually. All have not the same line of work, but all may unite in their efforts....Our workers are to become a living agency to reveal the purpose of God in calling them to His work....By the living voice, and by kind, compassionate deeds, we are to exemplify the principles of the gospel. . . .[3]
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What is the motivation behind what you are doing in your life?
Matt 25 (v. 31) When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. (v. 32) All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. (v. 33) And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. (v. 34) Then the King will say to those on His right hand, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (v. 35) for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; (v. 36) I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.”
(verse 37) Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, “Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? (v. 38) When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? (v. 39) Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?” (v. 40) And the King will answer and say to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”
References:
1. Mark Finley, (1995). Beyond Orion’s Gates, p.143, Hart Research Center.
2. http://christianity.about.com/od/holyspirittopicalstudy/a/spiritualgifts_2.htm.
3. E.G. White, The Upward Look, "A Message for the World", p.277, par.4
Image #1: Daily Devotionals, (2017). Doing things God's way. Retrieved from http://www.dailydevotionals.co/2017/01/
Image #2: Godfrey Merritt, (2017). God put us together in a certain way. Retrieved from http://slideplayer.com/slide/5939632/20/images/6/God+put+us+together+in+a+certain+way+to+fit+into+certain+places+and+things+so+He+can+be+glorified+and+we+can+be+satisfied!.jpg
Image #3: Wisdom Quotes and Stories, (2017). Quote by Mother Teresa. Retrieved by http://www.wisdomquotesandstories.com/at-the-end-of-life-we-will-not-be-judged-by/
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