Spiritual gifts, motives and purposes

In a recent discussion with a fellow Christian, the conversation was steered in the direction of spiritual gifts, and certain questions arose during the conversation, these are:

1. Do we want spiritual gifts?
2. What are our motives for desiring them?
3. What do we want to do with them?

Some Christians would reply yes to the first question, and some of them would maintain that they already possess spiritual gifts. What are spiritual gifts? A search of the Scriptures supplies answers to this question. In the book of Isaiah, chapter 11 renders what is interpreted to be seven spiritual gifts, namely, wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. Furthermore, in 1 Corinthians chapter 12, we have; Word of wisdom, Word of knowledge, Faith Gifts of healings, Miracles, Prophecy, Distinguishing between spirits, Tongues, and Interpretation of tongues. So far so good, we now know what spiritual gifts are, we Christians can answer the question of whether we want spiritual gifts or not and whether some of us possess them already or not. The above list is however missing the most important spiritual gift of all, which is Love, love is the greatest spiritual gift to have. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. This verse has sadly been taken out of context so often and has been hijacked by popular culture. It is frequently posted on social media pages. There is a reason why this gift is not listed with the popularly recognized spiritual gifts, the reason being that it is regularly overlooked and by most, not considered a spiritual gift. In an overheard discussion between a Christian mother and her teenage daughter, the daughter expressed an unfettered desire to possess the spiritual gift of prophecy. Several Christian religious denominations recognise and organize their organization on the basis of spiritual gifts, while the writer does not possess absolute knowledge of the organization of all religious organizations, however it seems, none has a department dedicated to the spiritual gift of love. But them, this may stem from our understanding of the concept of the spiritual gift of love.

The answer to the second question always gives an indication to the answer of the third question. And the third question is really about, Purpose. Easter is about the purpose of Jesus Christ. Salvation, there is only one purpose that interests God, that is saving mankind. A selfless purpose. Any Christian that answers the third question in a way that differs from this, needs to grow spiritually. This brings to my mind the name of a Christian religious organization in southwest Nigeria; “God will do it”, and I wonder at the spiritual development of the founders of the organization. God has done it over two thousand years ago. It is finished, done and dusted. That is why we celebrate Easter every year. The only, and one time sacrifice for our sin, has been done by God Himself. He Himself had paid the price for our sin, talk about selflessness, gave the life of His only Son, well gave Himself, to ransom us from Death.

The greatest spiritual gift is love, the perfect love of God is Christ Jesus, and when you have Christ in your life, you have the greatest gift of all, you have all the gifts rolled into one Super Gift. However, you are not one who chooses the gift, and no amount of desiring, results in the possession of any gift. It is the Giver, who chooses who He gives a gift or the Gift to. In commemoration of the anniversary of the completion of the greatest gift of all-time in mankind’s’ history, the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, the greatest gift of God to mankind, thank You, Heavenly Father. Happy Easter to my fellow brothers and sisters.