There are three kinds of spiritual gifts. In addition to the situational gifts of 1 Corinthians 12 and the vocational gifts of Ephesians 4, there are the personality gifts of Romans 12. They are prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation, generosity, leadership and mercy. Even before we commit to follow Jesus, one of these gifts is a defining characteristic of our personality. We’re all born with one of these gifts.
Prophecy
People who have prophetic personalities are highly intuitive and determined individuals. They have a strong sense of what God has to say about things, even without a deep understanding of the Bible. They also speak the truth with little regard for what people think. They are bold, confident and authentic. If a person is inclined to prophesy, he should do it “according to the proportion of his faith.” In other words, prophets should speak forth the reality of heaven without letting the world influence what they say.
Service
Typically the first to volunteer, people with the gift of service are always ready to help. No task is beneath them. Humble and hard-working, they’re charmingly competent and extremely reliable. Renowned for their loyalty and strong sense of duty, they demonstrate their love for others by what they do. That said, servants must learn to say no sometimes, otherwise they’ll get burnt out.
Teaching
Reflective and analytical, teachers love to learn and love to share what they’ve learned. They’re obsessed with making sure everyone understands the truth and are very good at tailoring their message to their audience. Open-minded and always up for a good intellectual discussion, teachers are fascinated by new ideas and concepts. Teachers should remember, however, that “Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.”
Exhortation
Exhorters are relentless. They don’t understand the concept of defeat. They confront everything with a can-do attitude. No matter what happens, they remain focused. While they’re not always in a good mood, they’re generally upbeat people because they believe that any goal is attainable. They motivate and challenge others to succeed. Of course, there’s a fine line between encouragement and flattery. Exhorters need to be careful not to flatter other people.
Generosity
Givers by nature, people with the gift of generosity are always sharing. Refreshingly practical, they always try to make time for others and even seek out opportunities to help. Their hospitality is legendary; their gift-giving is unmatched. Sacrificial, humble and helpful, they thoroughly enjoy lavishing others with attention, affection and anything they might need. Unfortunately, people with impure motives will try to take advantage of people with the gift of generosity. Givers should exercise appropriate discernment.
Leadership
People with the leadership gift are decisive, dependable and diligent. They’re good listeners and great communicators. They want others to succeed and have a plan to make it happen. They’re often great networkers, having a unique ability to bring people together. Naturally, the temptation for leaders is to make it all about them instead of about God. They must remind themselves that their gift comes from God and they’re meant to serve Him.
Mercy
Patient, gracious and compassionate, merciful people are the ultimate caregivers. They’re steadfast, longsuffering and forgiving, making them the perfect companions in the middle of a difficult time. Usually familiar with suffering themselves, their empathy is limitless for those who are suffering. As frustrating as it may be, merciful people should remember that some people don’t want to be helped.