How do I discover my gift?
You discover your gift the way God has always grown His servants: by serving, with the Body, in love. The New Testament says every believer has received a gift to use for the good of all, that the gifts are diverse and mostly ordinary, and that they are given to build up the church. Look at what Scripture names, see what God has already placed in your hands, serve where you can, and let the Body of Christ affirm what it sees in you. Gift discovery grows out of faithfulness, not revelation.
This question arose from studying What are spiritual gifts, and how do they work? and How do I receive the Holy Spirit?.
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Go into the Word
Not a summary of these passages: the passages themselves. Read them, then come back to the study below.
The study
What the Scripture says
Every believer has received a gift
Peter assumes it: 'As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.' Paul says to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good, and the same Spirit distributes to each one separately as He wills. Even receipt of the gift is grace: 'to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.' You are not a bystander in the body.
As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.
But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.
But the one and the same Spirit works all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.
But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
The gifts are diverse and mostly ordinary
When Paul lists the gifts, most of them are not spectacular: prophecy, serving, teaching, exhorting, giving, leading, and showing mercy. In the longer list, alongside miracles and tongues, he includes helps and governments. God places each member in the body just as He desires, and most of us are placed in humble, daily service. So look where God has already fitted you, in capacities and opportunities He has given, not only at the flashy.
Having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, if prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith; or service, let us give ourselves to service; or he who teaches, to his teaching; or he who exhorts, to his exhorting: he who gives, let him do it with liberality; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages.
But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired.
Gifts are for building up, not for display
The measure of a gift is what it does for others. Paul says, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, 'seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly,' and Peter says that whether one speaks or serves, the aim is 'that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.' A gift is a channel for grace, not a trophy for the self. The test of your gift is not how impressive it looks but how much it serves.
So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.
But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.
If anyone speaks, let it be as it were the very words of God. If anyone serves, let it be as of the strength which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
You find it by serving
Gift discovery is not primarily a revelation; it is discovery in action. In the parable, the master gave each servant something and then expected faithfulness with it; the faithful servant, not the idle one, heard 'well done, good and faithful servant.' Serve where the need is, use what is in your hand, try what Scripture names, and let the Body of Christ confirm what it sees in you. Gifts become known as they are used.
“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
Having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, if prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith;
As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.
Love and character are the foundation
Above all things, Peter says, be earnest in your love, for love covers a multitude of sins. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control, and Paul's whole chapter on gifts ends by showing the still more excellent way of love. A gift without love is nothing. Pursue Christlikeness, and your gift will find its proper place in a life that loves.
And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love.
Follow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
As you read, you may wonder…
Scripture raises the next question
Studying the Word naturally opens more of it. Follow what you just read: it leads somewhere.
We haven't written this one yet. Take it to your church or small group: the Word answers it wherever it is asked. If we study it here later, all the better.
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Verses to meditate on
As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.
Having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, if prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith; or service, let us give ourselves to service; or he who teaches, to his teaching; or he who exhorts, to his exhorting: he who gives, let him do it with liberality; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.
But the one and the same Spirit works all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.
So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.
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