Motivational Gifts

There are seven different traits that help shape the different personalities of people given to the church to help enable it to function properly as one body.  They are the behavioral and emotional attributes that characterize an individual … in the church or in the world.  These seven gifts in people are the main reason they act or react as they do in certain circumstances.  These gifts are what motivates or moves their responses to various situations; they are the cause behind what they do … hence the name … motivational gifts.

These seven gifts are different than the nine spiritual gifts that operate in the church but are just as important for the health and operation of each local body of believers.  The motivational gifts are given to you by God … like your DNA is … it's just there, like the color of your eyes or hair.

NOTE … Your motivational gifting is the determining principle of your personality tendencies and it motivates your behavioral characteristics.

I'm going to try and give a simple explanation of each gift; what they are and how each one works to help the church operate together as one body.  The Apostle Paul speaks of each of them in Romans 12:4-8 … 

"For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:  (meaning … we are not all equipped or called to do the same thing)
So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness."

I believe what Paul is saying with this scripture is, that just as the physical body has many different parts or members; all of these members do not have the same function … they don't work the same or are used the same.

Likewise each local church body, made up of different members (people) are dependent on one another and need one another to operate correctly.  So then, by putting each of these seven different gifts or attributes in operation when it is needed makes for a healthier church body.

1.) The first one Paul mentions, is the gift of "prophesy or insight" … they instinctually know certain things and have an intuitive sense about where people and things really are.  They can identify evil as well as God's presence.

2.) The second one is the gift of "ministry or server" … which is serving those around you, doing for others in practical service.  Their gift is with deeds rather than words.  They see what needs to be done.  Servers find it hard to say no.

3.) The third one mentioned is the gift of "teaching" … having the ability to impart knowledge and to lead others into revealed truth.  They water but do not plant.  They need to validate truth and will test the knowledge of those who teach them.  They can give the impression of a lack of warmth in their personality, for they are not feeling orientated.  They can also seem authoritarian in their presentation of the facts.

4.) Number four on the list is the gift of "exhortation or encouragement" … using words to see people grow and mature.  They are motivated to encourage and stimulate people through their own life experiences.  To them the Word needs to produce real results.  Truth must be positive, practical, and personal.

5.) The fifth trait is the gift of "giving or contributor" … one who shares with others in need.  They are motivated to support others.  Giving can be material things, time, or financial help.  True givers give with no fanfare, manipulation or self-gain in mind.  Contributors usually have insight as to when, whom and how to give.
   
6.) Number six on Paul's list is the gift of being a "ruler or leader" … one who stands in front of others … "facilitating."  It's really leadership aid by working with and through others.  Facilitators can structure, organize and direct his co-workers.  Leaders do not joy in the task themselves … but they will do it anyway.

7.) The seventh and last, but only in the order listed; but just as important and the most needed of all the gifts is "mercy" … the compassionate love and kindness to help meet the sympathetic and emotional needs in the church body.  As servers are doers … mercies are feelers.  Their gift is to feel or sense when people are hurting and reach out to them.

We need a lot more mercies, servers, exhorters and perhaps even more contributors than … let's say insights or facilitators.  There is more need in these three areas than the others.

All seven motivational gifts are resident within each believer, but all seven do not operate with the same strength.

I have already stated that your motivational gift is the determining principle of your personality and temperament.  Your temperament is your usual mood, your normal emotionalism.

There are four basic temperaments or personalities of people.  I want to look at all four, what they are, how they operate and some of the problems associated with each one.  All four temperaments will have an effect on the operation of the motivational gifts.

The four temperaments and their basic characteristics are …

1.) Choleric … strong; worker.
2.) Melancholy … perfection; thinker.
3.) Phlegmatic … peaceful; listener.    
4.) Sanguine … popular; talker.

The Negative problems of each …

Choleric …
Basic desire is control. 
Emotional need is obedience. 
Cause of depression is ... not being in control. 
Spiritual struggle … the Sovereignty of God.

Melancholy …
Basic desire is perfection. 
Emotional need is sensitivity. 
Cause of depression is ... things aren't perfect. 
Spiritual struggle … the fairness of God.

Phlegmatic …
Basic desire is peace. 
Emotional need is self worth. 
Cause of depression is ... conflict. 
Spiritual struggle … person of worth. 

Sanguine …
Basic desire is fun. 
Emotional need is attention. 
Cause of depression is ... not having fun. 
Spiritual struggle … discipline.

These are the basic strengths and weaknesses in the four personalities.

This is why all the parts of the body of Christ need to know who they are and how they are equipped so they can do the type of work best suited for them.  Remember … some plant and others water … but all work.



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