volvement with others. Reach out, meet needs, bring blessings to them. In Paul's context here, proph ecy brings edification by the Word of God; service ministers to others to meet such needs as the bodily; teaching lays out and clarifies what God has said so that its meaning is evident and others may live in the good of it. We could go right on down the line with all of the gifts. When your attitude is sound here, it will often melt away your criti cisms of others. Your heart will be warmed by thanksgiving. You will look for some blessing Cod has marked out for you through the gifts of others. You will also foster within yourself a spirit of helping others. Aquila and Priscilla illus trate this for us in Acts 18. They took Apollos aside (was it home for dinner?) and explained the things of God to him more per fectly. They filled out areas of his need, and he went away a growing and more useful Christian to open the Scriptures and touch the lives of others. We, like these two, may help and not hinder in the body of Christ. Third, learn to say yes and no. Some stagger under the self-im posed and false burden that spir ituality always says yes. But if you see where your gift primarily lies, this will help you to know the things you should emphasize and the things you should leave to others. Fourth, remember that it is not just what you can do but what God can do. Refuse to strap yourself down to your own small dimen sions but live in the great terms of what God can do. Then the possi bilities for your gift bringing bless ing to others open up more and more. Page 7
two unhealthy extremes. On the one hand, avoid self-exaltation from exaggerated ideas of your gifts in relation to others. On the other hand, guard against self-belit tling from a false humility which makes light of your gifts. A faithful Cod has given them to you, and you really can be the blessing He has intended if you learn to let Him work through you. By a proper exercise of your gift (vv. 6-8). Paul emphasizes exercis ing yourself primarily in the area of your gift (as in prophecy, ser vice, teaching, exhorting) and watching that your attitude fits your gift (as in giving with liberality). There are very practical ways in which Paul's counsel can make a difference in the exercise of your gift. First, if you know you have a cer tain gift, be faithful in it. Stick with it patiently. Let the Holy Spirit de velop it through you. If you have still other gifts they will also be come apparent as you simply give the larger portion of your effort to the one about which you are al ready clear. Some display spiritual narrow-mindedness here that puts "all the eggs in one basket," so to speak. They demand that you fit into their mold and fulfill the same functions they are fulfilling. But it just makes sense that in certain cases it may be the will of Cod for you to stay primarily with the one function in which you can do the best service to the body of Christ without being unfaithful in certain other roles on occasion. Second, involve yourself with others. Do not back into a shell. Cultivate a consciousness that your gift is for the building up of the body, not just for you. This calls for unselfish sensitivity to and in
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