Gaming the Test: Your Results are Still Your Results
Every so often when someone takes the free online spiritual gifts assessment, they either immediately or within a day or so take it again. And sometimes again. When I am in direct touch with these participants, I am usually able to help counsel them to clarity. The most common scenario is that their top gifts will still be their top gifts—in each taking of the assessment—but perhaps might be reordered. It is extremely rare that anyone retaking the inventory gets completely different results from test 1 to test 2.
A recent example was a woman who took it one morning. She took it again 16 minutes later (I’d venture to say that that was hardly enough time to truly read through the 23 ordered results, click on and read the spiritual gifts definitions provided, and prayerfully process what she learned. A quick retaking like that suggests that she had certain expectations going in that perhaps weren’t “met” in the way she had anticipated. She then took it a third time just 23 additional minutes later.
Her results?
Nearly identical. Of the top eight gifts listed on the three lists—six are the same. The remaining two gifts appear within the top ten all on lists. Even with doubting or reacting or trying to perhaps “game the test”, she still ended up with consistent findings.
Her next move?
Taking time to prayerfully re-review the lists is step one. Asking the Lord to reveal to her what He wants her to know about His gifting and calling and purposing of her will help guide her understanding. Reading through the spiritual gifts definitions can help provide clarity. We sometimes look at the word for a gift “Exhortation”, “Administration”, “Hospitality” and bring our own nuances to what we think those mean. Oftentimes, the Biblical definition of these terms takes on a whole new and expanded, deeper meaning. Asking others who know her well will also serve her in discerning what the Lord is saying in this season through her results. Offering friends the list of 8 top gifts that appear on all three lists and gaining affirmation/confirmation about which ones others have seen in action will aid in her processing.
Another thing for her to keep in mind: each time she redid the assessment, was she in some way disappointed in her scores for some of the gifts? Perhaps having a score of 9 or 12 instead of 15 was bothersome to her. Interestingly, after each retaking, her scores for most gifts still stayed the same. Some changed only by 1 or 2 points. Your scores are not what is relevant. The order of importance is what matters. And, keep in mind that if you have ties for any gifts (say, a score of 13 for three gifts), those gifts will be listed in alphabetical order. They are equal, not ordered in terms of importance.
Another insight?
Her lowest-scores—indicating they are not in her gift mix—are also consistent across all three sets of results. Six of her seven are the same! And, not insignificantly, they all include her lack of the Gift of Knowledge and the Gift of Wisdom. Again, reason for her to prayerfully seek God for His wisdom and knowledge and guidance…and to also prayerfully seek counsel from those who she knows have these gifts.
If you don’t know your gifts—or, if it’s been a while since you did a gifts assessment, please avail yourself of these free resources:
Downloadable Resources--See Sample List of Interest Areas; Your Spiritual Gifts—A Study Guide; Knowing Your Unique Calling and Purpose Study Guide; Whole-Life Ministry: A Form of Worship, Grace-Giving, and Living into Your Calling.
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 faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and leaders in a diversity of fields for over 30 years. She has also been Equipping Ministries Director at her church since 1999.
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© Photo by Shirley Giles Davis, all rights reserved.