Romans - 12:6-21

     "And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given us," Paul notes in Romans 12:6-8, "let each exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, in his liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness."
     What about these gifts mentioned in verse six?  Everyone has at least one talent.  But a talent becomes useful only when it is put to use.  And have we ever seen a talent that really seems to be a curse?  A talent becomes a gift when it is put to use for the right purpose.  Gifts are also discussed in 1 Cor. 12:1-11; Eph. 4:7, 11-16; 1 Pet. 4:7-11.
     What is the difference between a prophet, a minister, a teacher and an exhorter?  A prophet reveals the will of God.  A minister serves.  A teacher instructs.  An exhorter motivates.  There may be some overlapping (especially between prophet and teacher), but the roles are different.  For example, a prophet focuses on the Word and deals with knowledge.  A minister focuses on needs and deals with feelings.  A teacher focuses on the mind and deals with understanding.  (He might explain something that has been revealed by a prophet.)  An exhorter focuses on the heart and deals with emotions.
     Do we overlook those who have a gift for giving?  We don't overlook them when it is fundraising time, but do we overlook them when we think about great people in the Lord's body?  Barnabas had many gifts, but our first glimpse of him is as a GIVER (Acts 4:36-37).  There are people today who don't preach on television or radio, who don't write in the papers, who don't travel on the conference circuit...but who make all of these things possible.  They paid for this radio time.  They paid for the colleges and preacher training schools that prepared those others.  They may never conduct a home Bible study, but they are vital members of the body.  And, as such, they are used by the Word to win just as many souls as anyone else.
     As always, the point is not just how much a person gives.  It is how much he or she gives compared to how much he or she has.  To have the gift of giving does not mean to be rich.  It means to be rich in giving.  It means understanding what one brother pointed out: "All I have left is what I have given away."  Everything that we hold on to can be lost in an instant.  The only way to keep something is to give it away.
     Certainly, these are all characteristics that all Christians should strive for to some degree.  But let's face it.  There are some who excel in each of these fields.  It's God will that it be so.
     Verse nine begins a section that carries over to the following chapter (verse 10).  Love is the key that enables us to do all that is required of us.  What would the church be like if we all believed Romans 12:10?
     "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love;" the verse urges, "give preference to one another in honor."
     Don't say we believe it.  If we don't practice it, then we don't believe it.  What would the WORLD be like if we believed the verses in this section of chapter ten?
     We must abhor what is evil, verse nine commands, and cleave to what is good.  Here's another one of those negative-positive situations (there are many more in this passage).  These are strong verbs.  "Abhor" is not something we do half-heartedly.  "Cleave" is the bond between husband and wife.  That kind of bond is not supposed to be broken.  The teaching that Paul gives us here is the same as that of James (James 4:6-10) and Peter (1 Pet. 5:6-9).  Isn't it interesting that humility plays such an important part in all three texts?

     Paul has already told us (Rom. 5:2) that we should "exult" in hope.  This hope does not disappoint (5:5).  It comes from the encouragement of the Scriptures (15:4).  We can abound in it because we are filled by the God of hope (15:13).  Remember that hope seen is not hope (8:24-25).  Compare this with John 20:29.
     Verse 12 says to persevere in tribulation.  Are the promises of Jesus true?  Sometimes we act like He was lying in John 15:17-16:4.  Peter deals with this subject in great depth in his first letter (see 1 Pet. 4:12-16).  James agrees (James 1:12).  Paul has already stated his case (Rom.5:3-5).  This is why we were called (1 Pet. 2:21).
     We are to be devoted to prayer (1 Thess. 5:17).  From where does our strength come?  It comes from the Lord.  How do we get it?  We ask for it in faith (James 1:2-8, 4:1-3).
     Paul tells us to contribute to the needs of the saints.  This does not exclude doing good to all men (Gal. 6:10).
     We are also to pursue hospitality.  Isn't there just a little bit of difference between "practicing" something and "pursuing" it?  The Hebrew writer warns us not to neglect to show hospitality (Heb. 13:2) and Peter informs us it must be offered happily (1 Pet. 4:9).
     Verse 14 reminds us of the Lord's words in Matt. 5:43-48.  After all, giving a blessing is associated with the very purpose of our calling (1 Pet. 3:9).
     Why do we bother to call ourselves a body if we are not willing to practice verse 15?
     "Rejoice with those who rejoice," the verse tells us, "and weep with those who weep."
     Do we really rejoice together, or are we too reserved?  (Paul thought it was pretty important to rejoice: Phil. 3:1, 4:4; 1 Thess. 5:16.)  Do we really weep together, or are we too afraid of what others might think?
     Be of the same mind toward one another, verse 16 says.  When was the last time we put this one into practice?  Do not be haughty in mind.  Associate with the lowly.  James says it is wrong to play favorites, especially based on dress (James 2:1-13).  Peter sets forth the same teaching (1 Pet. 3:3-4).  Why, then, do we teach people that they must "dress up" in order to be acceptable at the assembly?
     The sometimes wise man Solomon warned against a man being wise in his own estimation (Prov. 3:7, 12:9,15, 16:2,25, 21:2, 26:12, 28:11).  How, then, can we obtain REAL wisdom?  James gives us the answer in James 1:5; we must request it from God.  But Solomon offers some "practical" pointers in Prov. 10:19, 17:27-28, 18:2, 20:3 and 29:9-11.
     The closing verses (17-21) all deal with a single thought: overcoming evil with good.  This, too, was taught by Solomon (Prov. 20:22, 24:29, 25:21-22).
     Is respecting what is right in the sight of all men the same as respecting what is right in sight of each and every man?  This is not likely, especially in light of what Solomon has to say about the way of a fool being right in his own sight.  Paul's point here is the same as in 2 Cor. 8:21.  If the idea of a man (or men) is contrary to an idea of God, it is the idea of God that is right (Acts 4:19, 5:29).
     One point that should be noted because it carries over into chapter 13: verse 19 says to leave room for the wrath of God.  This is talking only about the Day of Judgement, right?  No, this is not exactly true.  Paul will explain it in the next chapter.
     By the way, Paul "urges" us to practice the things outlined in this chapter.  But that does not mean that he is simply making a suggestion.  If we want to "prove the will of God," we WILL work to live according to the teachings of these verses.
     We WILL seek and obey the truth that will set us free.

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."