2003
Gifts from God
March 2003


“Gifts from God,” Friend, Mar. 2003, 36

Poster Article:
Gifts from God

All of you are children of the most High (Ps. 82:6).

You have many gifts from God. Some of you are good at sports. Some are peacemakers. Some can make people laugh and feel better about themselves. Some know just when something needs to be done and do it. Some can sing or dance or do gymnastics. Some are good at math or science or spelling. Some have lots of good ideas for better ways to do things. Some are good with animals.

These are all wonderful gifts, but there are other gifts that Church members have. They are spiritual gifts, and all are needed in the Church. The Apostle Paul wrote about them in his first letter to the people of Corinth:

“No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

“Now there are diversities of [many different] gifts, but the same Spirit.

“And there are differences [in how these gifts are used], but the same Lord. …

“It is the same God which worketh all in all.” (1 Cor. 12:3–6.)

Paul lists many of these gifts, and says that each of us can recognize the gift or gifts we have from the Spirit:

“To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

“To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

“To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues [the ability to speak different languages]; to another the interpretation of tongues [understanding of different languages]” (1 Cor. 12:8–10).

Then Paul explains that we are to use these spiritual gifts for the good of the Church, and that because all are needed, we must not think that the gift we have is more important. He said that if “one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or [if] one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it” (1 Cor. 12:26).

Finally, Paul said that we need to work hard to recognize the gifts we have and to help them grow so that we can help each other the very best we can.

Instructions: Mount page 37 on a piece of white or colored paper, cut out the strips, then make loops and link them together with glue or staples to form a gifts chain. All gifts are important, and together they form a strong chain.

Image
Gifts from God

Illustrated by Julie F. Young

Sports
Faith
Music
Peacemaker
Math
Languages (Gift of Tongues)
Good with Animals
Prophecy
Friendly
Healing
Science
Wisdom

Illustrated by Julie F. Young