Gifts

 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1 Corinthians 1:7 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/1co.1.7.ESV

Judging by Paul's teaching later on in his first letter to the Corinthian church, they needed some teaching on spiritual gifts. Even here at the outset, Paul sets out his stall. No-one in the Corinthian church was lacking in any gift.

Maybe the extra gifted Corinthian Christians were lording it over those who were less so. Maybe those who could speak other languages were put on a pedestal above those who simply had the gift of being organised. Yet as far as God is concerned, He has gifted all of His people with all that we need to serve Him.

I heard a great description of spiritual gifts recently. Rather than divorcing them from the fruit of the Spirit, we can see them as the tools by which we help ourselves bear as much spiritual fruit as possible. So the gifts of the spirit could be things like secateurs to prune a fruit tree.

I also heard recently that the Greek word for spiritual gifts is something like 'charismata' which literally means 'grace gifts'. We sometimes emphasise the difference between graces and gifting, but maybe we're making too much of a distinction. If someone ungracious is gifted, maybe they just have natural talent rather than spiritual gifting.

'Our Father in heaven, thank You for gifting us with all we need to live godly lives. Please help us to do so, for the honour of Your name, amen'

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