Monica Hill gives an overview of Romans 12 and the 'natural' gifts.
"We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 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" (Rom 12:6-8)
The gifts listed in Romans 12 are often regarded as natural abilities that should be obvious in any church or community. As a result, their significance can often be missed – especially if they are not studied in the context of the whole passage.
These natural giftings – serving, teaching, encouraging, etc - can be exercised in many walks of life. Natural talents are obviously gifts which have been given to us by God and we should always give thanks to him for them. But these 'natural gifts' can all too often be exercised without any reference to God – indeed, most of them are also present and valued in the non-Christian world.
This means that they are not always used in ways that benefit the Body of Christ. An obvious example: it could be assumed that a talented, organised Bank Manager would make the best Treasurer of church funds. But his secular banking experience might cause him to oppose faith projects that trust in God to supply the funds, instead requiring all the funds to be in the bank before the project begins (he would also spell 'prophet' differently!).
Natural becoming Spiritual
For Christians, our 'natural' gifts can become 'spiritual' gifts- through the enabling power of God's grace and through our own self-sacrifice. Paul begins the Romans 12 passage by urging believers "in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." Paul expects there to be evidence of self-sacrifice. In the previous chapter, Paul gives teaching on the grace of God needed for Gentile believers in their relationship with Jews and he gives over the remainder of chapter 12 to teaching on the true nature of love.
God gives everyone natural gifts and abilities- but only through the enabling power of his grace can they be transformed into truly 'spiritual' gifts.
Change of Mindset
Strange as it may seem, these gifts in Romans 12 are often the most difficult to convert into spiritual gifts. This conversion requires humility and a change of mindset.
In the same chapter, Paul tells us: "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourselves with sober judgement, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you" (12:3). He then goes on to show how each believer is a member of the Body of Christ and each of them are necessary. Then come the nine gifts, all with a careful corollary on the way in which they are to be used, starting with "in proportion to faith".
Why should Paul take so much care in outlining the practice of these natural gifts? Unfortunately, too often when we find something easy we can take it for granted and even begin to think that we have achieved it all in our own strength. Young people today are encouraged to blow their own trumpets and boast on their CVs. As we have already noted, those who have no faith also have these gifts - but many times they are exercised for personal gain and not for the enrichment of others - or they can be exercised badly or for the wrong motives.
Using your natural talents for the Kingdom of God requires humility and self-sacrifice- not the pride and boasting encouraged by the world."
End Purpose
The ultimate purpose of God's natural gifts is to bless and build up others, sending a message to the world that God is at work in his people. Verse 2 of the Romans passage warns us "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind", or as J B Phillips graphically translates this verse "Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity".
Too often Christians have allowed themselves to be persuaded to adopt the values of the world and to use these as their yardstick. They should really rather be acting as transforming agents to encourage the world to accept and confirm Biblical values. One God-ordained way to achieve this is to use of his natural giftings in a humble, self-sacrificial, Spirit-filled way that turns worldly priorities on their head.
This is not an easy task, as it is never finished! God has no grandchildren, and each generation of Christians needs to faithfully take up the mantle of encouraging others to embrace the faith, its principles and values. The structures may change and be adapted to have relevance in today's world, but ultimately the ministry is still the same- reconciling man to God.
The ultimate goal is for us to become agents of God's transformation, working with him to win others for Christ."
We live in difficult times – when individualism is running rife – when 'I', 'me-and-my-needs' are the main values in secular society, with community and strangers taking second place. The premise I was brought up on - 'God first, others second, self last' - is out of vogue today and needs to be re-emphasised in the church by the use of these easily recognisable 'natural' gifts. We will look at these in more detail in the next instalment.
