Gifts Galore!
In 1971 we travelled to stay with my grandparents for Christmas. All the presents were put under the tree. I searched for the ones with my name on. I found the present from my parents. I was instantly discouraged. The box was so small. At that point in my life, the assumption was, the bigger the box, the better the present. This one was the smallest present under the tree. I prepared myself for disappointment.
However, come Christmas morning, I opened the box and it far exceeded my expectations. Inside was a wristwatch. That might not seem important, but for 10-year-old Malcolm it was the world. Not all of my friends at school had watches. I was going to be one of the cool kids!
The giving and receiving of gifts seems to be as old as human civilisation itself. Perhaps that is because it reflects the heart of God. We were made in his image, remember? We are divinely designed to give and receive gifts as a lifestyle. Gifts are not just for Christmas. What does this have to do with our Christian community life?
God gave you and every member here a gift to share with the church.
That means we are a gifted community enjoying experiencing the gifts other people bring, and sharing our gift(s) with everyone else.
One of the most wonderful truths of the New Testament is this: every member of Christ’s body has been given at least one gift. Not just elders, not just teachers or evangelists, but everyone. And these gifts are not rewards for good behaviour or marks of spiritual superiority. They are grace — undeserved, freely given, generously poured out by God for the good of the whole church.
Paul writes in Romans 12:6,
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.”
Read the verse in context. It’s not a duty list, but a joyful description of a life shaped by God’s mercy. Just as a body needs all its parts working together to be healthy, so the church flourishes when each member uses what God has given them (1 Corinthians 12). As Peter says,
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10).
Using our gifts is not about earning or obligation. It’s about responding to grace with gratitude. When we do this, something beautiful happens — we find joy and spiritual fulfilment. Have you noticed how satisfying it is to serve in a way that matches how God made you? Whether it’s encouraging someone with a kind word, offering hospitality, teaching a class, helping behind the scenes, or simply praying faithfully for others — when you do it from the heart, you’re not just “getting something done”; you’re experiencing the life God designed for you.
This way of living also blesses the church. As Paul puts it in Ephesians 4:16, the body of Christ
“grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
When we offer our gifts, we honour God, we bless our church family, and we reflect the love of Christ to the world.
Jesus is our inspiration
Most of all, using our gifts is a way of imitating Jesus. He didn’t hold back or wait to be asked. He came to serve, not to be served (Mark 10:45). His entire life was an outpouring of divine giftedness — for teaching, healing, encouraging, forgiving, and ultimately laying down his life. When we serve, we follow in the footsteps of the one who gave himself completely for us.
So perhaps the question is not “What do I have to do?” but “What has God given me, and how can I enjoy using it to bless others?” In the church, we are a family full of diverse gifts. And when we all bring our unique contributions with a joyful spirit, we become a clearer, richer picture of Jesus himself.
Let’s embrace this gift-giving and gift-sharing life. Not because we must, but because we may. Not out of pressure, but out of praise. The grace of God has been given to us — and when we use it, we find joy, bring blessing, and honour the Giver.
Your brother, Malcolm
