Helping Others, Serving, Giving | Spiritual Gifts

Not all spiritual gifts will put you front and center in the “spotlight.” Truth be told, NONE of them actually should be used for the limelight. But there are spiritual gifts that are designated more for the background.

When we think of the body of Christ, maybe we want to be a hand or a brain. We want to be active in our gift, and we might have the temptation to be noticed. I think these gifts we are going to cover today are some of the most important as anyone, like other spiritual gifts, does not have to have the spiritual gift of these things to do them. In fact, we are all called to do these things just like Christ.

As with the other spiritual gifts, I want to go over what scripture says so that you can see what the Bible says on these topics. I’m trying my best not to add anything.

Help– to make something easier on someone, lessening their load

Serve– to be a servant, putting others in front of yourself  

Give– freely transfer something to someone else, provide or supply

The three of these all can go together, but they also are all different. Each have a purpose.

To serve may require helping. Maybe your mom needs help, and you have plans you want to finish. Serving is meant to be selfless and humble. Perhaps in order to help a neighbor they require items you can give them…maybe items you don’t have extra of, and yet you serve the needs before yourself.

Gift Of Helping

(NIV) 1 Corinthians 12:28, “And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.”

I’m covering helping first because both serving and giving follow a lot of the same things.

I had always wondered if there was a spiritual gift related to prayer warriors, and there is not. However, prayer is a definitely a way to help others. It should not be the only way we help others, but it is very important.

(NIV) 2 Corinthians 1:11, “as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.”

Going through the Bible we see many women known for helping. In today’s world, people scoff at this, but God does not. Helping others is just as important as the pastor who preaches. (Acts 9:36) 

Helping occurs in many ways, the people around us, the environment we are in, if we see a burden we can help lessen. We don’t necessarily have to be skilled in a position that is needed in order to help.

If you attend church keep your eyes open. Maybe you don’t like kids much, but the Bible school your church is putting on needs paperwork done, someone to sit at the table and help parents sign in their kids. Maybe there is a pot luck at your church and you could bring food. Maybe you’re really good with kids and the nursery needs people to look after the babies and toddlers. Maybe the Lord wants you to soften your heart toward kids because they are image bearers of God, too.

Maybe you go to a graduation party and see the mom is frazzled and things still need to be done. Maybe there is a parent struggling with their child and a cart full of groceries.

Does our spouse need help? Do our parents, siblings, friends, or neighbors?

The opportunities are there, and yes, God may place us with a heart full of the desire to help, or possibly, He places us in an area where a lot of help is needed.

Gift Of Serving

(NIV) Romans 12:07, “if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach.”

We are to act as if we are serving the Lord (Ephesians 6:07). Jesus shares this same thought as He talks about what we do to the least of these, we also do to Him (Matthew 25:40, Proverbs 14:31).

It’s important to make sure our spirit is not overwhelmed like Martha. I heard a great podcast on SetApartGirl about how we can serve others while our spirit, like Mary, rests at the feet of Jesus.

Following helping, we can serve very much in the same situations mentioned above. This is about denying ourselves in order to serve others and their needs. In the very same way Jesus denied Himself for us, we need to deny ourselves for the love of Christ and the love of others. Something, many of us, like myself, could work on.

 Gift Of Giving 

(NIV) Romans 12:08, “if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”

In the same way with helping or serving when we give it can be hard, but we are to be generous, and we are to do it out of love for Christ, as if our action was helping Him.

(NIV) Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

Maybe we bake a lot, have a lot, or we see a need. There are many ways to give to others, and sometimes we serve others by giving them our time and full attention.

I hope this study has been encouraging to you and beneficial. This is the last spiritual gift we will be covering this year, but the series will pick back up in January!

For A Full Look On Gifts and What Has Been Covered So Far see this post (list is at bottom). 

Comment Below: 

What are ways people can help, serve, or give?

Monthly Scripture – (NIV) 2 Corinthians 2:11, “in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.”

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