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Pathways Through Paul
Daily Devotional
April 17
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Today's Pathway:
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Yesterday we looked at the first spiritual gift listed in Romans 12: prophecy. In verse 7 Paul next lists "ministry". This is the Greek word from which our English word "deacon" comes. Its root idea refers to menial and mundane activities, such as waiting on tables or caring for household needs. These are often activities that don't seem very important in men's eyes, but they certainly are to God. The word "wait" in the King James version is in italics, which means that it is not in the Greek, but has been added by the translators. Thus, Paul says that if your gift is ministry, then minister! He says the same thing about teaching. John MacArthur defined the gift of teaching as
"a systematic training to take a person from one point to another".
If God has gifted you to teach, then you ought to be teaching. Again, remember that these spiritual gifts were given for the edification of the church. So, if God has gifted you to teach, Paul is not saying that you should go and get a job at the local school. You should be teaching the Word of God to others in the church so as to help them grow in the Lord.
In verse 8 Paul next mentions exhortation. MacArthur writes that this gift
"encompasses the ideas of advising, pleading, encouraging, warning, strengthening, counseling and comforting".
We have seen this word before. It is the word used for the "Comforter", and by definition it refers to the person who is called alongside someone else to give them assistance. Once a person has been taught, he may need someone to encourage him to put into practice what he has been told. So Paul says, if your ministry is exhortation, then exhort! He then talks about giving. Giving, refers predominantly to money and material goods. It is taking what belongs to you and distributing it to someone else. Paul says that this is to be done with "simplicity". The Greek word used there carries the idea of sincerity and liberality. If God has blessed you with the gift of giving, then don't hold back. As God leads you, give generously. The next gift is "ruling". The Greek word means "to stand before", and carries with it the concept of leadership. Not everyone has been called to an official leadership position in the church. But if you have been gifted that way, be diligent about it! The word translated "diligence" has a root idea of "speed", and in this context means to be eager and willing to carry out your responsibilities. Finally he mentions mercy. I think we understand what mercy is. However, Paul says that mercy is to be shown with cheerfulness. Those with this gift are not to be merciful to others while being bitter about having to do so. They should want to help others through their difficult times, and have a cheerful disposition while doing so.
It should be noted here that while some church members have been gifted with a special enduement of these gifts, every Christian ought to be putting them into practice. All believers are to do the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:12). All have a responsibility to teach others (Colossians 3:16). We all have a responsibility to exhort others (Hebrews 10:25). All of us should be giving (II Corinthians 9:7). All of us have some position of leadership, whether or not we have an official title. If nothing else, husbands and wives lead their homes and their children. Finally, all believers should be merciful (Luke 6:36). Therefore, regardless of your spiritual gift, all of us can learn from these verses.
Pastor Mark J Montgomery
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