1 Corinthians 12:1-11 talks about spiritual gifts God gives to His people. Now, there's a lot to unwrap within the concept of spiritual gifts, so let's take some time to do so. First, what does spiritual mean? Two definitions from Merriam-Webster are: "of, relating to, consisting of, or affecting the spirit" and "concerned with religious values". And if we look at this from a Christian perspective, we find that 'spiritual' means anything of the Spirit of the Lord. Now, what are gifts? Again, two Merriam-Webster definitions are as follows: "something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation" and "a notable capacity, talent, or endowment". So put these words together and you have spiritual gifts: talents or capacities voluntarily transferred from the Spirit of the Lord.
Now before we move on, let's unpack the concept of 'gifts' a little more. Besides talents, gifts are also concrete items given by loved ones for special occasions like Christmas or a birthday. A gift can be pretty much anything: a dog, a car, a book, an ironing board, a game, some socks, etc. The list is endless. Do you notice something about this? There's a lot of variation in the list: big and small, live and concrete, expensive and inexpensive, practical and novelty, every item is different. What this says is there are a lot of different gifts one can receive. There is no standard. Gifts differ from person to person and even occasion to occasion for one person. Unless you're super into routines and really don't like change, or by some mistake, I doubt you've received the same gift more than once.
See what I'm getting at? All of this applies to spiritual gifts: there's a wide variation of them and they vary depending on the one at the receiving end. Like I said, there is no gift standard. God didn't put it in everyone to have a heart for kids, He didn't put it in everyone to be outgoing and able to talk to any and everyone, and so on. If he gave every person the same spiritual gifts, His people would be able to cater only to those with one need. We have a variety of spiritual gifts placed in us because there's a lot of different people in this world with specific, individual needs.
The one solid that accompanies spiritual gifts is the one who is giving them. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 says, "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men." We are a diverse people with different and ever-changing needs, but our God is a constant, a mountain which cannot be moved. The Lord knows each of us so intimately that He knew exactly what would fit each of us. He knows our best work for Him is done when we are using the specific, individual gifts He placed in us.
Similarly, being anywhere and doing anything besides where God wants us and what He wants prevents us from doing our best possible work. If we are in positions and areas in which God did not place us, we are failing Him. We work so much more effectively in areas in which we are spiritually gifted. Utilizing the gifts God gave to us is honoring Him and that's exactly what He wants.
"All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines." 1 Corinthians 12:11
