Gifts

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(given). A common way of showing esteem and confidence and securing favors (Gen. 32:1313And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother; (Genesis 32:13)-15; 45:22-23). Kings were donees (1 Kings 4:2121And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life. (1 Kings 4:21); 2 Chron. 17:55Therefore the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honor in abundance. (2 Chronicles 17:5)). Not to give, a mark of contempt (1 Sam. 10:2727But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace. (1 Samuel 10:27)). Cattle given (Gen. 32:1313And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother; (Genesis 32:13)); garments (2 Kings 5:2323And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him. (2 Kings 5:23)); money (2 Sam. 18:1111And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle. (2 Samuel 18:11)); perfumes (Matt. 2:1111And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11)).

Concise Bible Dictionary:

These have a large place in the Old Testament history, and several different words are used which are often translated PRESENTS. There were
2. From an inferior to a superior (2 Chron. 9:2424And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, harness, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year. (2 Chronicles 9:24); 2 Chron. 17:5,115Therefore the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honor in abundance. (2 Chronicles 17:5)
11Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats. (2 Chronicles 17:11)). This also took the form of tribute, an acknowledgment of submission (1 Sam. 10:2727But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace. (1 Samuel 10:27); 1 Kings 4:2121And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt: they brought presents, and served Solomon all the days of his life. (1 Kings 4:21)). When Solomon reigned supreme, “all the earth” sought to Solomon to hear his wisdom, and brought presents, as did the queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10:2,24-252And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. (1 Kings 10:2)
24And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. 25And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armor, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year. (1 Kings 10:24‑25)). This is a type of Christ’s kingdom as established on earth, when presents, as willing tribute, will be sent from all nations to the Lord Jesus (Psa. 45:12; 72:10,1512And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall entreat thy favor. (Psalm 45:12)
10The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. (Psalm 72:10)
15And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised. (Psalm 72:15); Isa. 60:99Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee. (Isaiah 60:9)).
3. Gifts to judges: these were very apt to become bribes, and were strictly prohibited (Ex. 23:88And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous. (Exodus 23:8); Deut. 16:1919Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. (Deuteronomy 16:19); 2 Chron. 19:77Wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts. (2 Chronicles 19:7)). It was usual also to take presents to prophets (1 Sam. 9:77Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we? (1 Samuel 9:7)); and as the prophets were sometimes judges, the gifts were liable to become bribes, as they did with the sons of Samuel, though Samuel himself could challenge the people, and they admitted the fact, that he had never taken a bribe to blind his eyes therewith (1 Sam. 8:33And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. (1 Samuel 8:3); 1 Sam. 12:33Behold, here I am: witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you. (1 Samuel 12:3)).

From Anstey’s Doctrinal Definitions:

Then, there is the gift of “grace” that is given to every member of the body of Christ, whereby each is enabled to fill the place in the body in which he has been set (Eph. 4:77But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (Ephesians 4:7)).
There are also spiritual endowments that are given to believers, called “spiritual gifts” in the KJV, or “spiritual manifestations” as rendered in the J. N. Darby Translation (1 Cor. 12:1; 14:1, 121Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. (1 Corinthians 12:1)
1Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. (1 Corinthians 14:1)
12Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. (1 Corinthians 14:12)). A spiritual endowment (gift) is given to a person the moment he believes on the Lord Jesus and receives the Holy Spirit. When he is led of the Spirit to exercise his gift, he will contribute in some way to the edification of the body (1 Cor. 12:77But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. (1 Corinthians 12:7); Eph. 4:1515But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (Ephesians 4:15)). The Bible teaches that all believers have been given at least one such gift (1 Cor. 12:77But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. (1 Corinthians 12:7); 1 Peter 4:1010As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (1 Peter 4:10)). Ministry is simply the exercise of one’s gift; since all Christians have a gift of some kind, all Christians are in “the ministry.” The full range of these gifts is much wider than teaching, exhorting, prophesying, preaching, etc. It includes sign gifts such as: healing, tongues, and the working of miracles, etc. (1 Cor. 12:9-109To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: (1 Corinthians 12:9‑10)), and gifts that are more private in nature, for helping people on an individual level—such as: shepherding, helps, giving, showing mercy, etc. (Rom. 12:88Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:8); 1 Cor. 12:2828And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:28)).
There are also special “gifts” which are given to the Church by Christ, the Head of the body (Eph. 4:10-1110He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (Ephesians 4:10‑11)). These are men who in themselves possess certain distinct spiritual endowments for ministering the Word. They are: “apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors [shepherds] and teachers.” The Lord gives these men for the purpose of equipping the saints, and thus developing them into being able contributors in the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:1212For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (Ephesians 4:12)). Apostles are no longer with us on earth (Eph. 2:2020And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (Ephesians 2:20)), but the other gifts surely are. The prophets that are with us today are not those who receive revelations and foretell future events (Acts 11:28; 21:10-1128And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. (Acts 11:28)
10And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus. 11And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. (Acts 21:10‑11)), but those who minister the Word for edification, exhortation, and comfort (1 Cor. 14:33But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. (1 Corinthians 14:3)).
The sign or evidential gifts mentioned above have ceased because the purpose for which they were given has been fulfilled. This was in two ways: Firstly, those gifts were used to bear “witness” to the Jewish nation that the God was able and willing to bring in the kingdom in all of its power and glory (as presented in the Old Testament Prophets), if they would receive the Lord Jesus as their rightful Messiah. God confirmed this grace toward them in the ministry of the apostles (Acts 2:4343And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. (Acts 2:43)). Through them the nation tasted “the powers of the world to come” (Heb. 6:4-54For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, (Hebrews 6:4‑5)) and saw “signs and wonders” and “divers miracles” with “distributions of the Holy Spirit” (Heb. 2:3-43How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 4God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (Hebrews 2:3‑4)), and they also had men speak to them with “tongues” (Acts 2:1-131And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? 8And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. 12And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? 13Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. (Acts 2:1‑13); 1 Cor. 14:21-2221In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. 22Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. (1 Corinthians 14:21‑22)). But when—apart from a remnant that believed (Rom. 11:55Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. (Romans 11:5))—the Jews formally rejected this testimony (Acts 7:54-6054When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 55But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 57Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. 59And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:54‑60)), God set the nation aside in A.D. 70 with the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, with a large portion of the people being killed (Matt. 21:33-44; 22:7; 24:233Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: 34And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. 35And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. 36Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. 37But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. 38But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. 39And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. 40When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? 41They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. 42Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 43Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. (Matthew 21:33‑44)
7But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. (Matthew 22:7)
2And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. (Matthew 24:2)). Hence, the use of these sign gifts was no longer required (1 Cor. 13:88Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. (1 Corinthians 13:8)). History bears witness to the fact that after the first century, these miraculous gifts were no longer in use.
Secondly, God used the sign gifts to bear witness to the Gentiles that He had made a new departure in His dispensational ways in sending the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to form the Church (Mark 16:15-2015And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 19So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. (Mark 16:15‑20); Rom. 15:18-1918For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, 19Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. (Romans 15:18‑19)). The Gentiles were given opportunity to be a part of it, if they received the Lord Jesus. After the Church was established in those early days the sign gifts that were exercised in association with the preaching of the gospel, no longer continued. Again, Church history bears witness to this fact.
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The sphere in which the gifts operate in the house of God is one of three distinct spheres of privilege and responsibility—priesthood, gift, and office. Christendom has misunderstood the distinctions that mark these three spheres of spiritual activity and has merged them into one, and out of it has come the invention of a clergyman (a so-called Minister or Pastor), which does not have the support of Scripture. It is, therefore, important to note the difference between them. One difference is that priesthood has to do with what goes from man to God, since it pertains to praise and prayer; whereas gift has to do with spiritual things being ministered from God to man. (See The Priesthood of Believers and Office).
When the sphere of gift in the house of God is in discussion, it is usually referring to those gifts which pertain to the public ministry of the Word—preaching, teaching, exhorting, etc. However, the exercise of one’s spiritual gift is something that is not confined to assembly meetings; the gifts are to operate whenever and wherever a person is led by the Spirit to do so.
An important thing to see in connection with the subject of gift is that Scripture does not teach that a person needs to be trained in a seminary and ordained before he can use his spiritual gift. Nor does Scripture teach that these gifts must be carried out under the auspices of the assembly, or under the direction of a para-church organization—i.e. a missionary board. Each gift is given by the Lord and is to be used under His direction. The possession of a spiritual gift is God’s warrant to use it. The Apostle Peter indicates this, stating, “As every man hath received a gift, even so minister the same one to another” (1 Peter 4:1010As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (1 Peter 4:10)). He also said, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it of the ability which God giveth.” Note: Peter does not say that after receiving a gift to minister the Word that one needs to go to school before he can use it. The simple order in Scripture is: “When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation” (1 Cor. 14:2626How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. (1 Corinthians 14:26)). This is how the Church was taught and edified in its early days and it is the model for Christian ministry today.
J. N. Darby said, “If Christ has thought proper to give me a gift, I am to trade with my talent as His servant, and the assembly has nothing to do with it: I am not their servant at all....I refuse peremptorily to be its servant. If I do or say anything as an individual, calling for discipline, that is another matter; but in trading with my talent, I act neither in, nor for, an assembly. When I go to teach, I go individually to exercise my gift....The Lordship of Christ is denied by those who hold these ideas; they want to make the assembly, or themselves, lords. If I am Christ's servant, let me serve Him in the liberty of the Spirit. They want to make the servants of Christ the servants of the assembly, and deny individual service as responsible to Christ....I am free to act without consulting them in my service to Christ: they are not the masters of the Lord’s servants” (Letters, vol. 2, p. 92).
A person’s gift needs to be developed, and this takes time and use. The more a person matures in divine things, the more effective he will become in ministry (Acts 18:24-2824And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 26And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. 27And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: 28For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ. (Acts 18:24‑28); Mark 4:2020And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred. (Mark 4:20)). The Biblical way for a person to be taught in divine things is through attending Bible reading meetings (1 Tim. 4:1313Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. (1 Timothy 4:13)) and other such meetings where the Word of God is taught under the direction of the Holy Spirit (Acts 20:77And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (Acts 20:7); 1 Cor. 14:29-3129Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 30If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 31For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. (1 Corinthians 14:29‑31)). There is also written ministry (2 Tim. 4:1313The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. (2 Timothy 4:13)), or recorded ministry, given by knowledgeable and gifted persons.
It is also important to understand that these “spiritual” gifts are not natural gifts (1 Cor. 12:1; 14:1, 121Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. (1 Corinthians 12:1)
1Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. (1 Corinthians 14:1)
12Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. (1 Corinthians 14:12)). Natural gifts have been given to men by God from birth, which men develop through practise. These would be things such as: musical abilities, artistic abilities, athletic abilities, intellectual powers, etc. In Matthew 25:14-3014For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. 19After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:14‑30), the Lord made a distinction between spiritual gifts (using the figure of “talents” – a unit of money) and natural abilities and skills (which He called “ability”), showing that these are two different things. The wisdom of God is seen in the parable in that the man gave talents to his servants “according to” their differing abilities. This teaches us that the Lord gives spiritual gifts to the members of His body that correspond with what has been formed in their personalities naturally. For instance, an evangelist would likely have a natural ability of being able to talk to people, since this kind of service is all about reaching out to people with the gospel. It is not likely that the Lord would give that gift to a person who is reticent and lacks communicative skills. Likewise, the gift of teaching requires a certain degree of natural ability in the way of intellectual powers. The gift of teaching, therefore, would likely be given to someone who has an orderly mind.
Christians, generally, are confused about this. They think that a person’s natural ability is their gift in the body of Christ. From this comes the belief that Christians should pursue worldly careers in life—such as: professional sports, professional music, and other kinds of worldly entertainment, because they have a natural ability in that direction. J. N. Darby said, “It is wholly a false principle that natural gifts are a reason for using them. I may have amazing strength or speed in running; I knock a man down with one, and win a prize cup with another. Music may be a more refined thing, but the principle is the same. This point I believe to be now of utmost importance. Christians have lost their moral influence by bringing in nature and the world as harmless. All things are lawful to me, but as I said, you cannot mix flesh and Spirit” (Letters, vol. 3, p. 476). Nor do we see the Church in Scripture having meetings for these talented persons to display their natural abilities. Spiritual gifts are not for Christian entertainment, but for the building up of the saints in spiritual things.
It is also important to see that all such gifts do not reside in one person. Scripture says, “For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another ... ” (1 Cor. 12:8-108For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: (1 Corinthians 12:8‑10)). A man may have more than one gift, but it is clear from this passage that he will not possess all the gifts. Therefore, the assembly will need participation from all who have a gift for ministering the Word, if it is going to get the benefit of the gifts in its midst. Unfortunately, the clergy/laity system in place almost everywhere in Christendom pre-empts the free exercise of the gifts in those assemblies.

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Gifts: July 2006