你是否诚实面对自己?
罗马书十二章3至8节
3我凭着所赐我的恩,对你们各人说:不要看自己过于所当看的,要照着神所分给各人信心的大小,看得合乎中道。
4正如我们一个身子上有好些肢体,肢体也不都是一样的用处。
5我们这许多人,在基督里成为一身,互相联络作肢体,也是如此。
6按我们所得的恩赐,各有不同:或说预言,就当照着信心的程度说预言;
7或作执事,就当专一执事;或作教导的,就当专一教导;
8或作劝化的,就当专一劝化;施舍的,就当诚实;治理的,就当殷勤;怜悯人的,就当甘心。
信息分享
信徒拥有的才干,都是来自神的赐予。它就像礼物一样,并非由我们赚取而来的;因此,我们不能因它而夸口。然而,神将某项才干赐给我们,是为了让我们服侍基督和教会,绝非为了让人自炫。
保罗用了人的身体为喻,来讲解恩赐的教义(4节)。正如我们身体的每一部份,都有一个明确的功用;同样地,每个信徒在基督的身体里也有明确的作用。人的身体有很多不同的器官;基督的身体也是一样。人身体中的各个器官能巧妙地连合起来,一同发挥功用;教会也当一样。
人的恩赐和才干,若是出于神的心意和赐予,我们又怎能妒忌别人呢?每一位成员和每一种恩赐都有其重要价值。我们要为别人拥有的恩赐感谢神。神的心意是要圣灵将恩赐分给信徒,并赐能力给他们运用恩赐,好叫教会的工作得以延续。
我们如何得知自己有甚么恩赐呢?你可以细想自己喜欢做甚么来服侍主;也许透过这个方法,你可以很快发现自己的恩赐。
保罗还补充说:「要以谦虚的态度和火热的心来运用你的恩赐。你若是一位教师,就当尽心去教。你若是劝勉人的,就当时常劝勉人。无论作甚么,都要全心全意地为主而作。」这是一个值得时常紧记的原则。
HOW HONEST ARE YOU ABOUT YOURSELF?
Romans 12: 3-8
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,
5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;
7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;
8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Message
Any ability a believer may have come from God Himself. Like any gift, we did not earn it, therefore we cannot boast about it. However that ability is given to us to use for Christ's sake and the church. It is never intended for the glory of the person to whom it has been given.
Paul used the analogy of the human body to set out the doctrine of gifts (v.4). Just as every part of our body has a definite function, every believer has a definite work in the body of Christ. In a human body, there is tremendous diversity. It is the same in the church. In the human body, there is a wonderful unity with each part working together. It should be the same in the church, too.
If our gift or our ability is God-chosen and God-given, where does jealousy fit in? Every member and every gift is important. Be thankful for the gifts others have. Through the many gifts He has given to each believer, the work of the church is carried on by the Spirit of God.
How do you discover your gift? Think through what you like to do for the Lord. You may discover your gift more quickly than you think.
Paul added, “Always use your gift humbly and enthusiastically. If you are a teacher, put your heart into it. If you are an encourager, do it often. Do everything heartily as unto the Lord.” That's a good principle to remember always.

