It's What We're Called To.

Scripture: Romans 12:6-8 "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them:if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness."

Observation: Some of these gifts seem to  be ones that would be given to only a few believers and others I would think would belong to all believers. So that's the question I have: are all Christians given the gift of giving? Or showing mercy while others, like ministry or prophecy, are limited to some? In other words, how particularly does the Holy Spirit distribute the gifts?

I suppose a giving heart could be given to any Christian, regardless of how much they had (in fact, it seems those that have the least are often the most giving). Mercy should certainly belong to all. If the gifts were particularly given based on personality I would say that it may be true that only certain individuals might be given the gift of giving; others would apparently have the gift of tight-wadness.

But what we really see in Scripture is that all Christians should be living by the life of Christ (as Paul described in Galatians 2:20). So, I think that all Christians should be demonstrating (or striving to grow in) acts of charity, giving, mercy, grace, patience, kindness, love, etc.

A better understanding of the gifts will come by studying all the passages that describe the types and usage of the gifts.

Application:
Yet again, Christians have no excuse for ignoring (disobeying) the way of life that the Bible teaches.

Here's the reality - all Christians have been given a gift that must be used to serve the body and further the good message about Jesus. I, as a Christian, must be serving using gifts that I personally know God is equipping me with.

Serving God isn't about feeling adequate or prepared first - it's about obeying God when He tells me to serve and letting God's strength be demonstrated in our weakness.

It is this equation:
My weakness + God's strength = God's glory through Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Please help me to put Your strength and power to work in my life. I have this treasure of Your Son's life in the Holy Spirit in an earthen vessel that the excellence of the power may be of You, not of me. May I bring You glory today. I love You. Amen.