Giving: Spiritual Gifts Definitions, Scriptures, and Ways to Serve

[If you have not already done so, please take a moment now to take this free spiritual gifts assessment. Once you have your results, come back to this and the corresponding 22 blog posts for a detailed description of each of the gifts, focusing on your own as well as becoming familiar with all of them so you can spot and call them out in others.]

Giving

People with the gift of Giving often do not themselves view it as a special “gift” and/or do not wish to receive public recognition for their generosity. They don’t ask questions like “how much is too much?” In the power of the Holy Spirit, people with the gift of giving often view their resources differently—along the lines of “how much can I give away” and “how little can I live on to free up more resources for the kingdom of God?” They live as if everything they have belongs to God, knowing that God will provide for their needs. Giving may involve money as well as other resources like housing, food, clothing, etc.

Scriptures that reference Giving or show someone exhibiting this gift:

Luke 10 (the Good Samaritan); Luke 19 (Zaccheus); Luke 21 (widow);Romans 12;Romans 16 (Phoebe); 1 Corinthians 13; 2 Corinthians 6; Hebrews 13.

Questions on the assessment that pertain to Giving:

• I rearrange things in my life in order to be able to give my financial or other resources more generously to God’s work.

• I frequently look for opportunities to contribute money or resources in a way that makes a difference.

• Although my generosity is usually meant to be anonymous, people know me as charitable and philanthropic with the resources God has given me.

Some words that describe people with this gift:

• Generous

• Self-Controlled

• Accountable

• Resourceful

• Sacrificial

• Steward

Potential negatives to this gift:

• Can be too critical of what they deem extravagance.

• Can be seen as judgmental of those who don’t also give generously.

• Can take undue credit for ability to earn/save more instead of seeing it as God’s gifting and enabling.

Some possible ways to serve using this gift:

• Donor

• Stewardship campaign chair/assistant/coordinator

• Leader of and/or participant in courses on Biblical finance

• Fundraiser/ resource-raiser for ministry needs

• Debt-counselor

• Funder of programs and projects

• Generous giver to church and other mission budgets

Shirley Giles Davis, author of the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, Your Unique Design Class Guide, Your Unique Design Facilitator Guide, and Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with hundreds of faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and executive leaders in a diversity of fields for four decades. She currently serves as Catalyst for Equipping and overseer of Local Missions at her church.

Photo © Shirley Giles Davis.

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