Spiritual Gifts

I just had an interesting revelation. I'll save it for the end though, I have some other thoughts first. I was printing some material for work and there was a section on spiritual gifts, so I went online and took this test:
http://www.spiritualgiftstest.com



I posted my results below and the definitions of the categories, but my top three gifts in order are mercy, exhortation, and faith, wisdom a close fourth. Bottom three are knowledge, giving, and evangelism. I know that no test is perfect, but this does seem accurate. It's way more appealing for me to work directly with people and I feel like I can relate and understand a lot of things - and when I can't, I don't hesitate to admit that either. I also believe faith overcomes lack of knowledge, which is why I included wisdom as a close fourth. It contrasts my weakness in knowledge; wisdom and knowledge are related but are very different things.

I have been feeling conflicted about the giving part though. I actually got in a debate on Facebook with some guy on this. I almost never donate or give money. Here is my thought process. I also rarely spend money on myself. The vast majority of my money goes towards essentials - rent, food, gas, loans. There is additional money that continues to go towards loans - I am currently paying them back at twice the rate I am required to. More additional money goes towards the retirement fund. Most of the remaining amount sits in my account as savings/safety net. I would say I spend about $50-$100 a month on anything personal - going out, clothes, ultimate frisbee. Loans take up most of my money because the faster I pay them off, the less I have to pay in the long run. I want to be able to free myself up to have the additional monetary freedom in the future. I can hear what some people might say...God will pay you back for what you give away...but if I gave money right now that would be the determining motivation and I don't want to give money with the anticipation of a reward. It's a complicated thought for me.

Wow, this one quiz has so much packed in it. I'll get to the point. This might sound simple but no one has ALL of these gifts, and I don't have to feel guilty because I'm not good at some of these things. I have strengths AND weaknesses. Do I need to rely on God to fill those weaknesses (and to continue to build my strengths) in the future? Yes. But I don't have to feel bad that I suuuuuck at some of these things, like I just failed a Good Christian test - which is what I felt like when I first got my results.

Anyways, you should definitely take this test as long as you won't get down on yourself! It's thought provoking.

Definition          Administration/Ruling - 16

Definition          Discernment - 15

Definition          Evangelism - 13

Definition          Exhortation - 20

Definition          Faith - 19

Definition          Giving - 12

Definition          Helps/Serving/Ministering - 17

Definition          Knowledge - 12

Definition          Mercy - 22

Definition          Pastor/Teacher - 16

Definition          Teaching - 16

Definition          Wisdom - 18

Administration/Ruling This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit enables certain Christians to organize, administrate, and promote the various affairs of the local church's ministry to direct them effectively. A local church cannot grow beyond a certain point without the ministry of these individuals. See I Corinthians 12:28, Romans 12:8, Titus 1:4-5

Apostleship This is the spiritual gift that refers to certain men called by Christ Himself and given special power to charter the newly formed church. See Ephesians 4:11, I Corinthians 12:28, Acts 1:21-22, I Corinthians 9:1

Discernment This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit enables certain Christians to know without a doubt whether a statement or behavior is of God, satan, or man. See I Corinthians 12:10, Acts 5:3-6, 16:16-18, I John 4:1

Evangelism This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit enables particular Christians to share the Gospel to unbelievers and burdens Christians about soul-winning. All Christians are called to witness for Christ whether they have this gift or not. See Ephesians 4:11, Acts 8:5-12, 26-40, 21:8, Matthew 28:18-20

Exhortation This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit enables certain Christians to deliver challenging and encouraging words. See Romans 12:8, Acts 11:23-24, 14:21-22, 15:32

Faith This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit provides Christians with great confidence to believe and expect great things from God. See I Corinthians 12:9, Romans 5:1, 12:3, Hebrews 11

Giving This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit enables certain Christians to accumulate and give large amounts of their finances to the glory of God. See Romans 12:8, Acts 4:32-37, Galatians 4:15, Philippians 4:10-18, II Corinthians 8:1-5

Healing This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit uses certain Christians to restore physical or mental health to the sick or demon possessed. See I Corinthians 12:9, 28, 30, James 5:13-16

Helps/Serving/Ministering This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit empowers certain Christians to render practical help in both physical and spiritual matters. Serving one another, like evangelism, is a calling of all Christians, but there are some who have a special desire to serve, and receive great blessing from it. See Romans 12:7, I Corinthians 12:28, Galatians 6:1-2

Interpretation of Tongues This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit gives certain Christians the ability to clarify and interpret messages uttered in an unknown language. See I Corinthians 12:10

Knowledge This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit gives certain Christians the supernatural ability to understand God's Word and to effectively communicate it to others. See I Corinthians 12:8

Mercy This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit enables certain Christians to minister to and have compassion for those who are suffering or afflicted. See Romans 12:8, Luke 10:30-37

Miracles This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit empowers certain Christians to perform events that are outside the realm of nature. See I Corinthians 12:28

Pastor/Teaching This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit enables certain Christians to preach and teach the Word of God and to take responsibility for the spiritual welfare of a body of believers. See Ephesians 4:11, I Peter 5:1-11

Prophecy This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit empowers certain Christians to receive revelation of events in the future. See Romans 12:6, I Corinthians 12:10, 14:1-5, 30-33, Ephesians 4:11, I Peter 1:20-21

Teaching This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit enables particular Christians to communicate and clarify the details and truths of God's Word for others to learn. See Romans 12:7, Ephesians 4:11

Tongues This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit enables a Christian to supernaturally speak a previously unknown language. See I Corinthians 12:10, 30, 14:4, 39, Acts 2:4, Acts 19:6

Wisdom This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit empowers particular Christians with a supernatural understanding of God's Word and the will to apply it to life situations. See I Corinthians 12:8, James 3:13-17.