Gifted Differently, Part 2

by Vinetta Sanderson

March 2006

Last month we looked at the differences between Manifestation, Ministry and Motivational Gifts.  Since this study will focus on the Motivational Gifts, for a quick review, let's remind ourselves of them:

The Motivational Gifts (Romans 12: 6-8 NLT)

        "God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out when you have faith that God is speaking through you.  If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well.  If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching.  If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously.  If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously.  And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly."

The New International Version lists the gifts this way:  "If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.  If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully."

As mentioned in the introduction, everyone has a 'motivational gift' built into us when God formed us.  In fact, there may be primary and lesser gifts, but our 'natural tendencies' often reveal the stronger gift we were given.  Our gift shapes our personality and affects how we see and respond to life.

Determining our motivational gifts enables us to recognize the contribution we make to the body of Christ and within our society, and also provides understanding of the differences in others.

Seeing Life Through Different Eyes

Given the same situation, a perceiver will look at life one way, a teacher or giver will see the same situation entirely differently.  What seems 'clear' to one person may be hidden to another because they do not process the information with the same gift.  When Paul in Romans reminds us that we are 'part of a whole' and we need one another, he's really telling us we are only given a limited perspective of the whole picture. We must work together, dependent on one another for a 'true' picture.

There's a story told of six blind men who went to 'see' an elephant.  Each one was placed on different sides of the animal. One felt the side and said an elephant is like a wall.  The next felt the tusk and claimed an elephant is like a spear.  The third felt the trunk and likened it to a snake.  The fourth felt a leg and concluded an elephant is like a tree.  The fifth touched the ear and determined an elephant is like a fan.  The sixth felt the tail and reported the elephant is like a rope.  No one was altogether right, yet neither was he entirely wrong.  It was only when they got all their observations together that they 'saw' the whole elephant.

It is the same with our motivational gift.  Each of us is somewhat blind to the other person's perspective.  We are not wrong in our way of seeing but, without input from other gifted people, we miss the complete picture.  God made us to need one another.  Paul fittingly uses the analogy of the body both in Romans when he teaches about the motivational gifts and again in 1 Corinthians (12:12-30) where he concludes with the ministry gifts.  We are incomplete without the interaction and ministry of our fellow believers.

Gifts, the Body, and Purpose

To understand the motivational gifts, we can see how they correspond to our physical body. 

1.  Perceiver:  This is the eye of the body 
                      ~  declares the will of God, meeting Spiritual needs, keeping us centered on spiritual/Biblical principles
            -  this gift offers spiritual insight, seeing things from a spiritual perspective that others often miss
            -  the perceiver has a special responsibility to voice a 'prophetic' call of God's truth
            -  has the ability to discern the deeper issues of situations and people's problems

2.  Server:  This is the hands of the body
                    ~  offers practical service, meeting Practical needs, keeping the work of ministry moving
            -   this is a practical, 'hands-on' gift, often referred to as the 'gift of helps' (1 Cor. 12:28)
            -   servers are able to 'do' many things and are quick to become involved

3.  Teacher:  This is the mind of the body
                    ~  researches and teaches Biblical truth (focuses on facts), meeting Mental needs, keeping us studying and learning
            -   teachers are exceptionally gifted with intelligence, always asking questions, always seeking knowledge, searching for truth based on facts

4.  Exhorter:  This is the mouth of the body
                    ~  encourages personal progress, meeting Psychological needs, keeping us applying spiritual truths
            -   exhorters talk much, but are gifted with the ability to encourage, console, and make someone believe they can succeed

5.  Giver:  This is the arms of the body
                    ~  shares material assistance, meeting Material/Physical needs
            -   this gift provides the ability to extend the reach of every Christian endeavor
            -   besides finding ways to 'fund' the need, givers support others in their efforts through various means and methods

6.  Administrator:  This is the shoulders of the body 
                     ~  gives leadership and direction, meeting Functional needs, keeping us organized and increasing our vision
            -   administrators shoulder the load of leadership and responsibility, with the ability to manage and oversee projects

7.  Compassion Person:  This is the heart of the body 
                      ~  provides personal and emotional support, meeting Emotional needs, keeping us in right attitudes and relationships
            -   people who are gifted with compassion tend to rule by their heart rather than their head, 'feeling' deeply for and with others
            -   they show God's nature of kindness, care and mercy to others

The Birthday Cake Test

How did you answer the birthday cake test?  If someone walked into the room with a brithday cake and dropped it, how would you respond?  You may have had awhile to think about it, but think of your 'first' or automatic response.

A perceiver would say they saw that coming - just how it was being carried or the person was not paying attention... (or some other reason.)
The server would grab a mop or broom and start to clean it up.
The teacher would analyze how it was carried or whatever could be done to prevent this from happening again.
The exhorter would encourage the person by telling them how the same thing happened to them or someone else, it could happen to anyone, not to worry about it, they didn't need cake anyway...
The giver would offer to go buy another cake.
The administrator would be trying to organize the clean up and determine how the party could continue.
The compassion person would feel so sorry for the person who dropped the cake, probably even cry for their embarrassment and all the work that they'd put into making it; then give them a hug and try to make them feel better.

Remember, none of these reactions is wrong... although our strength is usually our weakness and in a time of crisis, as much as our strengths surface, so can our weaknesses.

The compassionate person may be scolded by the perceiver for the tears (bawling), which can seem needless and of no help at such a time!  There may even seem to be a sense of 'they deserved this' for not being more careful.  (Such can be the case when a perceiver marries a compassionate person!)

The server, although happy to help, is often frustrated that no one else is helping her clean up this mess!  (Remember Martha?)  'What good is it to figure out why the cake was dropped?  Just get it cleaned up!'  Sound familiar?

And so we see how unnecessary disagreements start and why it's helpful to understand that others don't think as we do and respond differently - even foolishly to our way of thinking.  It's wonderful to realize God can not only make us aware of our strengths, but He can teach us how to stretch beyond our gifts and work together rather than independently of one another.  Although the teacher may work out a solution scientifically to prevent another disaster, she can empathize with the compassion person and the one holding the empty plate.

May I remind you that, while you will usually have a primary gift, there will be evidence of all or most of the gifts in your life.  That allows us to blend together and minister when called upon in many situations.  As an example, each one of us should 'give' when a need is presented.  Those with a motivational gift of giving are usually the ones who give when others 'miss the obvious' to them.

I also want to again encourage you to not limit God's ability to stretch you.  I have experienced this first hand.  Someone who, years ago, scored very high as a perceiver and very low on compassion (to no one's surprise at the time), now demonstrates a wonderful gift of compassion - so naturally that new acquaintances would believe it was his primary gift.  It is God's grace gift!  Through a willingness to work on his character, to pay attention to those around him, and through difficult circumstances in his life, he's learned to have compassion and care for others.  The perceiver gift is still strong, but he's learned how to temper it with tenderness without compromising the message!

Enjoy your gifts, use your gifts, and embrace the gifts of those around you!

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Editor's Note:  This study is adapted from the book "Discover Your God-Given Gifts" by Don & Katie Fortune. (Published by Chosen Books, a division of Baker Book House Company) Some parts are exact quotes.