Gifts and Expectations:

Recently I had the privilege of giving a talk entitled, “You and your gifting: Three Essential Questions.” One question I explored was, “What are God’s expectations of us regarding the use of our gifting and talents?” This question for me is kind of self serving because one thing I have learned about myself over the years, is I perform best when the expectations of me are clear. When the expectations are vague, I don’t do as well. Maybe you can relate.

While doing research for the talk I learned that Scripture has a lot to say about gifting and God’s expectations of us. So much so that it was impossible to cover all the material in one talk. However I went to several verses about gifting and extracted out everything that looked to me like something that God would expect of us regarding our gifts and talents. I then made a list and wrote it in the form of a letter from God to us, the body of Christ.

The expectations are a composite of many verses that use different analogies to describe our gifting. Sometimes in scripture, the human body is used to explain the role and function of our gifts and talents such as what we read in 1 Cor 12:12-31. At other times gifts are described as a kind of currency that we are commanded to invest in obedience to God and in service to one another, such as what we read in Mark 25:15-31. Beside each expectation, I have put the corresponding scripture verse that you can look up at your leisure if you wish.

The letter reads like this:

Dear Christ Follower, here are my expectations of you regarding your gifting:


1) Believe that I have given you at least one gift if not more to be used mightily in the Kingdom of God. Christ followers who don’t believe they have gifts, or ignore them are in danger of being assessed as lazy, fearful and self absorbed upon my return. You however, have been called to a higher standard. If you prefer, don’t think of yourself as being gifted, just think of yourself as a, “manager” or “steward” of the resources I’ve given you. All you have is mine anyway and it is to be used for the common good. (Mat 25:15) & (1 Cor 12)

2) I expect you to discover, develop and employ the gifts I give you. Developing your gifting is as much a command in scripture as trusting in me for your salvation and the Great Commission. As a matter of fact you can’t do the great commission without developing your gifts. (1 Peter 4:10) (1 Cor 12: 4-11)

3) I expect you to use your gifting within a particular context, my body, the church. This means you can’t live for yourself anymore. You are part of a much larger diversely gifted whole. (1 Cor 12:12-13)

The good news is you are more significant when the Holy Spirit arranges you in the body and we function together. No one is left out. Not even you. The bad news is, the significance of your contribution is based on what you’re a part of, Lone Ranger Christianity? There’s no such thing. You’re important but no more or less important than anyone else. Parts separated from the body become monsters. (1 Cor 12:19-24) (Rom 12:6)

4) I expect you to treat fellow Christ followers with respect. There are three things you should know about this. A) People with more gifts aren’t better than others, they just have more responsibility. Don’t envy them. 4B) Some people have gifts that are seen by everyone and thus highly valued by man. Some people have gifts that are seen by no one and are less valued in the eyes of men. But I value them all equally, from the custodian to the preacher to the prayer warrior and beyond. (1 Cor 12:19-24) Why? Because no matter how many gifts a person has or how few. No matter how flashy those gifts appear or how common, they all come from one source, the Holy Spirit. No one can take credit for that. (1 Cor 12:4-11) (Mat 25:15)

4C) Don’t ever think that there are members of the body you don’t need. While you may be able to function being toothless, hairless, eyeless and earless, even limbless, it isn’t without making compensations and being at a major disadvantage. And no one wants to speculate on what it would mean to be without a heart, lungs or brain. You need one another. (1 Cor 12: 19-24) (Rom 12:6)

5) I expect you to multiply the gifting I have entrusted to you. I want a return on my investment in you. Those with the least, to those with the most amount of gifting will be entrusted with more kingdom work to do. They will be given great honour and reward when I come to settle accounts. The only way to fail is to fail to try. (Mat 25:15-29)

6) While I expect you to use the gifts you have, I don’t expect you to use gifts, you don’t have. That stands true regardless of how many date squares are needed for the bake sale, whether the church roof needs shingles, or whether every car in the parking lot needs repair. If it ain’t your gift- don’t do it. (1 Cor 12:14-18)

7) I expect you to show up, be on time and do your best, when you are called upon to use your gifting. Quite simply, the whole body is mutually dependant on each other. When you are there and actively participating everybody receives honour. When you are not there and are not participating, everybody looses- including you. Every expression of gifting shows who I am. When gifting is not expressed, people miss out on who I am. (1 Cor 12: 14-24)

8) If you see another brother or sister not using the gifts I’ve entrusted them with, I expect you to bug them about it, but do it in love. If you don’t want to bug them, call it, “encouragement,” or “spurring each other on to good works.” (Heb: 10:24-25)

9) I expect you to remember that as a valuable part of my resurrected body, I am working through you and your gifts to bring healing, offer hope, break chains, teach truth, minister compassion, demonstrate the power of gospel, worship and show grace and forgiveness. In short, the motivation behind all your gifts is my love. I have no plan B. Our goal is the reconciliation of the human race to my heart. (1 Cor 12: 4-11)

Will you join me?

We may see those expectations and think, “Wow, God really expects a lot of me.” And I think he does, I think God does expect a lot of us around gift and talent development. The gifts and talents God has placed in us, must be realized, developed and expressed in order to advance the purposes of the Kingdom of God within our sphere of influence. That’s where hard work is often required because knowing yourself and gift development doesn’t always come easy. It is however, well worth the effort in light of the fact that the work we do in partnership with the Lord and with each other has eternal value.

Terry