Spiritual Gifts
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. (1Cor 14:1)
During career guidance students are normally advised to go for marketable courses and jobs. Careers with fewer people like Architecture and Medicine always hold more promise, as opposed to those which are already saturated and overpopulated like many areas in Social Sciences. The good news, however, is that real life has great rewards for all; both the Social and Natural Scientists as wells as the Professional and Businessman combine their learning with individual genius and opportunity factors around them to find their way to the top. One the other hand, Uganda is one of the countries battling ultra-high rates of unemployment mainly due to a disconnect between academic training and skills required in the job market. I have already contended in the higher context – the better news is – that God has an assignment for each one of us; there is indeed a great difference in God’s job market. There is no unemployment in the Lord’s vineyard.
If Paul is serious about encouraging all of us to desire the spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy, do we no risk having too many gifted people? The truth is that God’s estate is so vast that there is always room for one more labourer. In 1Cor 14 there is a lengthy comparison between the gift of prophecy and speaking in tongues: prophecy is understood and builds the people of God, while tongues edify the one who speaks without much effect on the assembly. When and where do God’s people need to be built up in the faith and hope? This is not just in Church or at the fellowship, but rather everywhere and all the time. You will always find two or three people in need of a Word from God to address their situation, whether it is on career growth or overcoming temptation or addressing power struggle issues at the workplace.
Every Christian will live more effectively if they always walk with an inspired Word to share. And this can be shared in many ways: in daily life primary interactions there are opportunities; all ministry activities like drama, dance, singing, ushering, gate keeping, preaching, leading meetings – all these need have some prophecy. In this case, what we mean by prophecy is simply a Word from God to His people. In the recent enrollment for training in Preaching and Altar Ministry, over 50 people have registered, and we notice that each will be deployed. This discipline in growing one’s spiritual gifts is worth celebrating; in wider and more ways, the message of desiring to serve God and building up the Church still beckons – without thinking this to be for a select few, each one of us is called to a life of building others in the Name of Jesus Christ, and therefore you should and must eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
God bless you.