While studying the topic of hospitality and its connection between humility and service, I have decided to go one step further into one of my personal gifts, the spiritual gift of service. I used an online test to help me discover those specific gifts that God had given me to further His kingdom here on earth. Obviously, this test does not determine your gifts; only God can do that, but it may be a great resource to further understand with which God has blessed you. In this post, we are going to take a look at the spiritual gift of service and the connection which can be made between service and hospitality.

The Spiritual Gift of Service: 

Two Greek words connected to this gift:

• Diakonia:
  • Found in Romans 12:7
  • Usually translated as “ministry”
  • “Any act of service done in genuine love for the edification of the community.”
• Antilepsis:
  • Found in 1 Corinthians 12:28
  • Usually translated as “helping”
  • “To help or aid in love within the community.”

Webster’s 1913 Dictionary defines “service” this way: “The act of serving; the occupation of a servant; the performance of labor for the benefit of another, or at another’s command; attendance of an inferior, hired helper, slave, etc., on a superior, employer, master, or the like; also spiritual obedience and love.”

Webster’s definition points to the connection between humility and service. Think back to Dickson’s definition of humility: “the noble choice to forgo your status, to deploy your resources, or use your influence for the good of others.” It is not what you can gain, but instead how you can use your resources or gifts for the good of others. The key phrase found in Webster’s definition is: “in the benefit of another” no matter our status or level of power. Pointing back to the Greek word for service, Diakonia, we serve out of a “genuine love for the edification of the community.” God has given us each unique gifts to develop and nurture the family of Christ and the community of the church.

Authors of the website Spiritual Gifts Test, continue to describe the spiritual gift of service this way as it points back to its effect on the church community:

“The Holy Spirit endows some believers with this gift to fill the many gaps of ministry and meet the needs of the church as it fulfills the Great Commission.  The goal is to energize the church and free up others to use their gifts to the fullest.  The result is the continued edification of the church and the added ability to see beyond its own needs and reach out into the community.”

Reference: http://www.spiritualgiftstest.com/spiritual-gifts

The Spiritual Gifts Test

While I was not surprised by the results of my first Spiritual Gifts Test, it was very helpful to be able to read through the descriptions and to identify those ways that God has gifted me. It is also a practical tool to see how God can use your gifts in your community. The test is free! I would encourage you to check it out: http://www.spiritualgiftstest.com/test/adult