Ephesians 4:11: Gifts

Ephesians 4:11
[11] And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, (ESV)

When I was a child, my father would occasionally go away for a few days. Most of the time, he was going to a Minister’s Conference. On most of those occasions he would come back home and have some sort of gift for me. It was an inexpensive trinket, but it meant the world to me. It meant that he thought about me while he was gone. A loving Father gives good gifts to his children. We have a father like that. In fact, our Father is far more giving to his children than any of our earthly fathers.

“On no one has God bestowed all things.  Each has received a certain measure.  Being thus dependent on each other, they find it necessary to throw their individual gifts into the common stock and thus to render mutual aid. . . whatever our attainments we ought not to be proud of them, because they lay us under deeper obligations to God.”

- Calvin, John. Epistle to the Ephesians, Calvin’s Commentaries, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI, page 271.

We have all received different gifts.  God has something for each of us.  And as the great John Calvin says, these gifts should humble us.  What we have been given is to be used in His kingdom and for His glory.  These gifts listed in verse 11 are leadership gifts.  And while these gifts are very important, it is essential that they be used with humility or many in the kingdom of God will be hurt.

The Apostle Peter, who had to have his own lessons in humility, speaks to how those who have been gifted in leadership should act:

1 Peter 5:2–3

[2] shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; [3] not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. (ESV)

God has given you a gift.  If you do not know what it is consider where your passion lies and seek the Lord to show you how to use your gift.  When you use your gift exercise humility.  Do everything for God's glory.