SCL

I am surprised by the amount of “Helps is not a real gift” responses to this post. It is listed both in 1 Cor 12:28 (as “those who are able to help others”, NIV) and Romans 12:6 (as “serving”, NIV).

As someone who has gifts of both helps and mercy, I always end up spending a lot of my time helping others. I spent a year on the AV team at one church where that meant I would have to get there at 7 in the morning, and get home at 9-9:30 at night. And I loved it. I always love being involved and helping out with whatever is going on. I’m still on the roster for the Data Projector at my current church, and whenever I go home to visit my parents I plan to help out at their church too.

I also have an inability to not help people around me who need help for whatever reason. This often means I end up putting my own needs well below the needs of others and I’ve been told many times that I should look after myself before looking after others. It’s a balance I’m still trying to find.

I wonder if there is a spiritual gift of "supervising"?

I had to laugh at this because I just realized the other day that “helps” is probably my gift, judging by the diversity of the things I do in the name of ministry.
And my pastor says rightly that we are expected to exercise all the spiritual gifts – at least to try them on for size – and that not having a gift is no excuse for leaving a need unmet.

Funny. Very funny and good indeed.
When I get on a soapbox and realize I've been an idiot, I resort to my backup/backout line:
"What?!? Can't anyone take a joke?" <–nice

"I also have an inability to not help people around me who need help for whatever reason. This often means I end up putting my own needs well below the needs of others and I've been told many times that I should look after myself before looking after others."

Spiritual gift?

wow. I figured it was just because I was lame that I did stuff everybody else tried to get out of.

I like washing dishes. I like doing for people.

I also really, really don’t like being in charge. Of anything. Does this give me the gift of helps?

Which brings to light the age-old question – are my ’spiritual gifts’ inherent in me before my conversion? Is it something supernatural given after my conversion?

I’ve got opinions, I’d like answers. I’d like to be convinced, too, but maybe that’s just me.

Laughed all the way through the post AND the comments!

Yeah, I probably would have been tempted to call him out too. As a person who is always hustling to get one more thing done over at the church, I get just a wee bit tired of folks who don't want to do anything but show up. We're ALL responsible for getting things done, and it doesn't take a gift to see that, I hope.

(Oh, and I'll rat myself out here: I seethed for an entire week after I took a spiritual gifts inventory and was told that helps was one of my main gifts! I'm finally getting used to the idea, I guess.)

I just hope he was kidding. My friends and I kid about the "Gift of Sarcasm", but we know we are kidding, you know?
An ability and a willingness to help is a gift I guess, but not feeling like it is hardly an excuse not to do it. I am not good at organizing the buffet at Church functions, but that doesn't absolve me from carrying the casseroles from the kitchen to the buffet table where the ladies in charge set things up real nice.
And yeah, some people swing a broom better, and they are welcome to take it from me if they think they can do better.

If I was there and you hadn't called the speaker on that horse manure, I would have. You did the right thing.

I was recently called a "servant" by someone who I think is lazy. It simply meant that I did the things he didn't want to, and I wanted to yell at him for it. What a shame that I didn't have the guts to speak out. . .

What about the gift of Sarcasm? I know that's my spiritual gift because I use it every day all the time.

Check out 1 Peter 4 starting in verse ten.

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 11If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.

In NLT it says helps instead of serves I think. Maybe thats where that guy got it from. I dont think its something lazy people made up.

Love you.

What about the fact that God uses us in our weaknesses?

Spiritual gifts should help us find our passion, but they are not a get out of free card for the things we don't want to do. And I personally believe it's like the idea of multiple intelligences – we all have them in varying degrees. And we are called to use all of them.

I don't think you were a jerk. This guy is supposed to be guest leading a bible study class and is putting out the lame idea that you don't have to help out if you don't have the gift of helps…. I say, way to call him out on it! I wish more people would do that. I think too many people are too polite. Sometimes people need to be called out on stuff.

I'm glad you called BS, er… questioned that person's thinking. Anytime we take God's gifts and pervert them to achieve our own will (i.e. backing away from serving in any role in church because it isn't our strength) that is idolatry.

You were right to get angry. In my mind, hat situation called for some good ol' Old Testament "gnashing of teeth". Maybe even a stoning. I'm sure you would have, too, if your pastor hadn't stepped in.

i fully think what you said was completely in-the-right. "Gift of Helps". What a jerk.

WIN.
Jon Acuff just got 100 times better.

Thank you for recognizing that the spiritual gifts are just that-spiritual.

As Christians, we’re really, really good at super-spiritualizing our laziness. While I do agree that there are some areas that require special giftings (ie, patience to work with kids, anyone?) and that some people are better equipped at some things than others, there are aspects of the Christian faith that we are called to live out regardless of our giftings.

One such thing that I find particularly offensive is when someone says “God just hasn’t given me a heart for missions.”

Whaaaaat? Isn’t that the very heartbeat of God? To go and make disciples of all nations? Whether you’re doing it in your back yard or in Mozambique, you are supposed to be discipling somebody, even if it only means picking them up and taking them to church. Get off your super-spiritual high horse and go live out the calling that God has placed on your life!

Yeah. Um, I was a children's pastor for five years. Do you have any idea how many times I was told " I just don't have the spiritual gift of changing diapers." Seriously? Where do you people come from?

Actually, "gift of helps" is a valid spiritual gift. "And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues." 1 cor 12:28. I think that's my gift, actually. I like to help out in the practical things, so thats usually what I volunteer for. However, I concur that using that as an excuse not to help out when you're standing there and people need help is way lame.

I just want to say that I am really, really bad at helping clean stuff. I just don't even know what to do a lot of the time. I stand there, ready to help, but I need somebody to tell me what to do, specifically. I'm generally oblivious to what needs doing, anyway. I see people running around doing stuff, like super-industrious bees, and it looks like everything's covered to me, and I'm not sure where to pitch in, frankly I feel in the way. I'm happy to help do anything except wash dishes, but I'm also clueless. Seriously, it's awkward.

So if you do have the "gift of Helps", or are just an industrious person, and at clean-up time you notice me, standing around awkwardly, just ask me if I could do _______, and give me whatever tool I need (broom, sponge) to accomplish the same. Thanks!