Spiritual
gifts are given to believers only, and must be used in order to have a
fruitful spiritual life. If not used, these gifts will be wasted. The
repercussions are more than the failure to use one’s talents as the
significance of spiritual gifts concerns life and death, heaven and
hell.
Spiritual gifts are not limited to gifts directly related to the
Word of God only (Eph 4:11). They also include gifts like hospitality,
fellowship, etc. Ephesians 4:12-16 teaches that all spiritual gifts
serve and accomplish the following purposes:
- “For the perfecting of the saints” and “the edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph 4:12).
Spiritual gifts are given by God to prepare believers to serve in the
ministry of the church. They will help to build up the brethren’s faith
by equipping them with the wisdom to apply God’s Word into their lives.
The brethren’s faith will mature and can help in the spiritual growth
of more believers. However, the building up of faith takes a lifetime
of constant learning and applying of God’s Word. We must keep growing
and be more spiritually mature so that we can serve the Lord in greater
capacity. Hence, the studying of God’s Word is the key.
- For the battle and unity of the faith (Eph 4:13-14). We must
keep using our spiritual gifts, and not stop serving God, to help bring
others closer to and be united in Christ. Members of the church must
unite as one body and serve in their respective areas so that Christ
will be promoted and every member will be blessed by becoming more
Christ-like. This unity can only be attained if we all have the same
mind of Christ, to help and forbear one another so that the devil will
not have the chance to cause and use any disunity to destroy the
church. We must have a strong foundation in Christ by studying God’s
Word so that we will not be easily “tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Eph 4:14). We will not be easily deceived because we have a matured faith to know the Word of God well.
- For the body of Christ (Eph 4:15-16). Members of the church
must love and care for one another as one united body of Christ by
using our spiritual gifts to serve one another in church. This unity
must be firmly in place so that the church can help each member to grow
spiritually and also for the church to be an effective witness for the
Lord Jesus Christ in this world.