Our lesson in Gospel Doctrine this last Sunday was on spiritual gifts. Few things make me feel as much in awe of God's eternal graciousness and my unworthiness all at once. My life has been infinitely blessed by other's spiritual gifts and I hope to be able to return the favor someday.
In my patriarchal blessing and elsewhere I have been "given" amazing gifts. In preparing for this lesson I began to wonder if those gifts that are given to us are something that we naturally have or if we merely have tendencies towards them and the ability to posess them if we put in the work. Are some given to us so we will work for them and create strengths in place of weaknesses? I think this is unlikely, but when I look at my own gifts I can't help but wonder.
In Corinthians, after a list of spiritual gifts are given, Paul proceeds to explain that these gifts mean nothing if we don't have charity. If we have faith, prophesy, gift of healing, etc., it means nothing without charity. This is comforting to me and gives me hope because I know that these gifts were not given to me for my own benefit, but for the benefit of others. Maybe that sounds strange, but it relieves some sense of responsibility when I feel like I am not using my gifts to personally achieve what I want to achieve. It helps me to put my life into focus and realize that God's gifts are given to me for the use of his eternal purpose to bring to pass the salvation of man and may be reserved for those situations where my gifts can benefit my brothers and sisters.
How do we practice charity? The charity spoken of is not "charity" in the way it has become connotated in our society. It is not the giving of money, service, or distributing food. 1 Cor. 13:3 "And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." I think it is sincere love for fellowmen. We know charity is "the pure love of Christ," but how do we implement that each day. I think we must observe how we react to those with whom we come in contact. Are our reactions negative, degrading, prideful? Do we speak ill of one another and find entertainment in pointing out others shortcomings? Do we want to help those we see in need, but find an excuse because of our selfish fears?
As much as I am grateful for my spiritual gifts and as AWESOME as I may think they are, they "profiteth me nothing" if I have not charity.
2 years ago
4 comments:
Excellent Mary, excellent. I do have a thought about the last part- selfish fears. I had this experience yesterday, two examples:
1. Our valley experienced some flooding yesterday and I got about five e-mails with one number to help sandbag, and instead of calling right away, it took me about 15 to decide that though I would be scared to go somewhere I didn’t know well, with people I did not know, and doing things I didn’t know if I could do or not…I needed to go! I eventually did call, but it makes me realize that I am selfish because of my insecurities.
2. I have acquaintances who I know would need help and support, but because I am afraid they will reject my offer, I have still not gone that extra step. I find this a struggle often in my life. I have the impulse, or inclination, to help a friend, acquaintance or just a stranger, but because I am afraid they will not want the help, be offended or hurt me, I do not offer. I have not yet found a good way to get over this fear. Usually it ends up being a passage of time, and if they issue is still there I can eventually convince myself to help, but that isn’t good enough for me, I need to improve.
Kinda random off your topic, but I’m like that ;)
I think it IS very likely that we are given spiritual gifts that we need to work for. I imagine, in many cases, we can have gifts that are quite natural, but I think many require work. We talked about this in our lesson on the same subject. Someone, probably the teacher, likened them to the analogy of faith and seeds. They need cultivation and attention to keep growing into strengths. Another person mentioned the parable of the talents (which, I think, talents can often be spiritual gifts as well) and the work involved in adding to our talents. Even if a spiritual gift comes "naturally" the work involved might be in having and nurturing Charity in our lives. For, as you said, these gifts mean nothing without it. As Lindsey mentioned, it's sometimes a struggle to have Charity or to be charitable. I know I have a hard time with it too. And therefore, my assertion is that in order to have and keep the many spiritual gifts we are blessed with, it requires a good amount of work. Whether this work deals with the actual gift or the Charity required of the gift. Although it is GOOD work with many blessings and rewards, it can still be a struggle.
P.S. That last post was from Heidi
Hi Heidi!! Yes, I think you are right. Our spiritual gifts are "gifts," but they only last and develop if we put them to good use. Like our talents we must work to keep them, but if we work they will multiply and God will make again manifest that we can never give back as much as he has given us.
To Lindsey: confounded selfish fears!!!
That's one of the things I love about you Linds. It may have taken you fifteen minutes before you choose to overcome your selfish fear, but the amazing thing is that you did overcome it!! Most of us wait those fifteen minutes to let the any guilty feeling pass away. I have so much to learn from you!
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