What Is Your Motivational Gift

What is Your Motivational Gift?-- By Bob Beckett

Credits

We are especially indebted to Bill Gothard for most of the major insights in this material. Also included are teaching from Pastor and Mrs. Don Pickerell of Los Angeles and two books that really encouraged me to share my heart on this subject are “The Peter Principle” and “The Real You”. Bob Beckett - pastor

The traits of children are to be considered with a great deal of prayerful caution. They need much more study and are open for discussion.

If we are unique individuals from our mother’s womb, then we need to appreciate and help strengthen what God has made our children and not try to force them into a mold. We are to train them in the way they should go for God’s purpose in their lives, but we need to encourage them to blossom through the gifts He has put in them.

Discerning Motivational Gifts

If each Christian properly understood his motivational gift, it would not only motivate him to greater commitment and service, but would also bring a whole new excitement to the Body of Christ.

1. Every Christian has a motivational gift

When we were born, we possessed certain natural abilities and certain motivation al abilities. “So we being many are one body in Christ and everyone members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that was given us… Rms 12:5, 6

2. Joy comes in exercising our gift

The root word for each gift is “charisma.” This comes from the word “char” which means joy. “Charis” is the word for grace which involves God giving us the desire and power to accomplish God’s will. Phil 2:13

3. Finding personal fulfillment is only possible by developing our motivational gift.

Each of us has a desire for meaningful achievement. The ultimate of this is having a significant part in a divine program. This divine program is being carried through the Body of Christ by proper functioning of each man’s gift.

4. Each gift is designed to perfect the Body of Christ

Just as there are varying functions in the members of our body, so each Christian has a particular and necessary function in the Body of Christ. Failure to exercise our gift weakens the ministry of the Body of Christ.

5. God wants each of us to understand our gift.

If we are to concentrate on our gift as instructed in Romans 12, we must first understand what that gift is. Also, if we are to have harmony with others the Body of Christ, we must understand what their particular functions are.

6. There are three distinct categories under spiritual gifts.

“Now concerning spiritual (matters), brethren, I don’t want you to be uninformed… There are varieties of gifts… there are varieties of service and there are varieties of workings.” I Cor. 12:1-6

7. Scripture lists the gifts under their specific categories.

a. Motivations (Romans 12:3-9)

b. Ministries (I Cor 12:27-31 and Eph. 4)

c. Manifestations (I Cor 12:7-11)

1. Motivations – Charismation

The basic inward drive which God places in each Christian to express His love. I Cor 12:4

1. Ministries – Diakonion

The opportunities of Christian service which are open to us for the exercise of our basic motivation. I Cor 12:5

1. Manifestations – Enegema Phanerosis

The actual result in the lives of those to whom we minister as determined by the Holy Spirit. I Cor 12:6

When we exercise our motivation (Romans 12) through our ministry (I Cor. 12:27-31, Eph. 4), the Holy Spirit determines what manifestation (I Cor 12:7-11) will benefit the receiver the most. (I Cor. 12:7)

Hindrances to Discovering Your Gift

There may be many reasons why a person is not able to discern his motivational spiritual gift. Here are a few:

1. Unresolved root problems in personal living. It is significant that the gifts of Romans 12 are not mentioned until the moral conflicts of Romans 1 through 11 are dealt with.

2. Lack of involvement with the needs of others. Our gifts are stirred up and discovered as we focus on the needs of others rather than what our ministry is to be. A servant’s heart is essential to discover our spiritual gift.

3. Attempts to imitate motivations of others. If a Christian is caught up in trying to imitate the ministry of other Christians he will not be free to discover his own motivation.

1. Failure to analyze why certain activities appeal to us. It is important for us to understand what the basic motivation is for our present Christian activities. Many activities will be the means of fulfilling our basic motivation.

1. Confusion between motivational gift and ministry gift. A person with the motivation of teaching may, for example, have a ministry of prophecy which he thoroughly enjoys. This may cause him to question which one is his actual motivational goal.

Each gift has certain characteristics which are emphasized more than others. These characteristics have been gathered together and have provided significant help to many in discovering their motivational gift.

PROPHESYING: Revealing unrighteous motives or actions by presenting truth. They have an ability to discern people’s character and motives. They often have an urgency to speak plainly and persuasively with a capacity to identify, define, and hate evil. There is a willingness to experience and prompt brokenness. They have a real concern for God’s reputation and can bring to light things previously concealed.

Misunderstandings: People with the gift may appear to be too frank and almost harsh. Their interest in groups may seem like a lack of interest in individuals. Often their efforts to gain results may be seen as using gimmicks. Their emphasis on decisions may appear as neglecting spiritual growth. Their boldness and strict standards may hinder intimate personal relationships. Often their desire to convey truth may be interpreted as little interest in another’s viewpoint. They may appear proud of their rhetoric and persuasiveness.

Traits of children: They usually don’t have a good imagination and they don’t like to play with dolls. They are not much for toys. Instead they are very active; they would rather kick a toy than play with it. They don’t like to be alone, but very often are. They like people. They don’t like fairy tales and will read only what interests them. They are usually depressive and negative, especially toward themselves.

SERVING: The function of demonstrating love by meeting practical needs. In a server, there is a will to fulfill needs regardless of weariness. They have a real capacity to be involved in many activities and often too many causing frustration at limitation of time. They have a desire for appreciation which is fulfilled by serving others. They have an ability to recall likes and dislikes of people and often enjoy short range goals better than long range goals. They have an ability to detect insincerity and usually are not gifted at public speaking. They are willing to let others have the credit.

Misunderstandings: People with this gift may sometimes appear to be too pushy. Their avoidance of red tape may result in excluding other from jobs. Their disregard for personal needs may extend to their own family. Their eagerness in serving may prompt suspicion of self-advancement. Their desire to sense sincere appreciation may result in being easily hurt. Sometimes their quickness in meeting needs may interfere with spiritual lessons God is teaching those with needs. Meeting practical needs may be judged as lack of interest in spiritual matters. They may often be frustrated with long-range objectives and may appear proud of their good deeds.

Traits for children: They like to color. They learn quickly. They are great imitators – they like to do what mom or dad does. They usually have a best friend and relate better and easier in a small group. Teen-agers like to make thoughtful things for others and are anxious to see if it pleases them. They find a great satisfaction in putting things together. They like pets and can easily show their affection to pets rather than people. They don’t like to be in front of groups.

TEACHING: Searching out and systematically presenting truth. They have a delight in research in order to validate truth. They present truth in a systematic sequence. They have a resistance to Bible illustration out of context. They almost receive a greater joy researching than presenting truth and often spend hours in research. They have an appreciation for preciseness of words, and believe their gift is foundational to all other gifts.

Misunderstandings: Their emphasis on the accuracy of the teaching may appear to neglect its practical application. The concern to impart details of research may appear to be unnecessary to those listening. Sometimes they appear to lack warmth and feeling with speaking and because of their desire to test knowledge they may appear to be prideful of learning. Sometimes they are more concerned with research than the response.
Traits of children: They are orderly, punctual, faithful, perfect in attendance, no easily persuaded, yet not bull-headed. They like intricate toys, read comics and encyclopedias. They are not always brilliant, but imaginative and questioning. They are loners – generally with a book in hand.

EXHORTATION: To stimulate faith and encourage growth in others. They have a tendency to avoid theoretical speculation that lacks practical application. They have an urgency to see specific action. They have an ability to see tribulation as an aid to maturity. Often, they have an insistence on outward proof for inner conviction and take delight in personal counseling. They tend to be positive and their emphasis is practical and personal, encouraging a person to pursue a specific course of conduct. They discover insights from human experience which can be validated and amplified in scripture. This might be called the gift of encouragement toward personal progress. They tend to be greatly loved because people are drawn towards them.
Misunderstandings: Their emphasis on steps of action may appear to over-simplify the problem. The urgency in giving steps of actions may appear as being overconfident. Sometimes their use of scripture for practical application may appear to be taken out of context. Sometimes they may appear to disregard the feeling of those being counseled. They may appear to motivate others for selfish gain. They appear to be discouraged with the lack of progress.

Traits of children: They are usually well-liked and have a positive nature. They love groups, yet do well on a one-to-one basis. They love to be the center of attraction, to act and to be on stage. They want to excel – examples: the best performance, lifting weights, the prettiest dolls. They look for ways to make a task easier, like waving a paper towel over the dishes to dry them. They love to tease and are usually the jovial teaser of the family. They adjust easily to new concepts and new places. Mathematics is like a blank wall to them. On TV, things that are true and real are popular with them as are gangsters and animal stories. At a young age they have a special affection for animals. They are not savers, but will eat all the candy now rather than save it for a later date.

GIVING: Helping to meet the material needs of others. They have an ability to make wise purchases and investments. They have a desire to give quietly to effective projects. Sometimes they attempt to use their own giving to motivate others to give. They have joy when their own giving is an answer to prayer. They have a desire to feel part of the supported cause. They are often looking for needs and spending their life on others. They have an ability to organize their personal business in order to gain assets, and usually are not too thrilled to receive but prefer to give. They have a tendency to overlook long range goals in meeting immediate needs.

Misunderstandings: The need to deal with large sums of money may appear to be a focus on temporal values. The desire to increase the effectiveness of ministry by their gift may appear to attempt to control the work of a person. Their attempt to encourage others to give may appear as unnecessary encouraging. Their personal frugality may appear to friends and relatives as selfishness in not meeting their needs. They tend to measure spiritual success by material assets.

Traits of children: They are open and receptive, positive in nature, extremely friendly and agreeable. They dislike injustice – such as cheating or not taking their turn. They will quickly correct the wrong action. They are strong in nature, yet take correction easily. They are easily appreciative and show delight in good meals. They are active and like to participate. They are always busy; sometimes flighty when small. They are people orientated and would rather play with others. They are participators; they join everything in sight and they have confidence that they can do it. They are usually leaders.

LEADERS OR FACILITATORS: To co-ordinate the activities of others for the common goal. They have an ability to see the overall picture and know what can or cannot be delegated. They have a tendency to stand on the sidelines until those in charge turn over responsibility to them. They have a willingness to endure reactions from critics. They look at people as resources. The have a desire to complete the task as quickly as possible. If there is not structure they will assume leadership. They have an ability to distinguish major objectives and help those around them to visualize the situation. They have fulfillment in seeing all the pieces fit together. They have an ability to distinguish major objectives and help those around them to visualize the situation. They have fulfillment in seeing all the pieces fit together. They have a tendency to overlook major character faults in those who can help them achieve their goals. They have a tendency to us people to accomplish goals rather then meeting personal needs.

Misunderstandings: The ability to delegate responsibility may appear as laziness in avoiding work. The willingness to endure reaction may appear as callousness. The viewing of people as resources may look like projects are more important than people. Their desire to complete tasks swiftly may appear to be insensitive to weariness of the workers.

Traits of children: They are often lazy, but will get the job done through others. They like detective stories. They write notes to themselves. The usually have many friends in many groups. They are always about 16 steps ahead of people. They want to get involved in things like collecting money and make plans for kids and with others before you know they are made. If they wet their pants, they will say, “Don’t worry, they’ll dry.” They are usually good in gym. They learn to know a lot of people. They are tough-nosed and can take a lot of teasing. They are generally interested in everything.

MERCY: Identifying with and comforting those who are in distress. They have an ability to sense joy or distress and are attracted to people in trouble. They have a desire to remove hurts and to bring healing. They have a sensitively to inconsiderate words and actions. They are often closed to insincere and insensitive people. They have a greater concern for mental pain than physical pain. They sometimes avoid firmness until it is evident that it will bring healing. They desire to meet the sympathetic and emotional needs of the body.
Misunderstandings: The avoidance of firmness may appear to be weakness and indecisiveness. They may appear to be guided by emotions rather than logic. The attraction and understanding of those in distress may be misinterpreted by those of the opposite sex. They may appear to take up another’s offense. The ability to detect insincere motives may cause some to feel they are hard to know.

Traits of children: They usually have a quiet disposition, not bombastic. They are easily upset by loud noises or a harsh command. They like surroundings to be quiet. They are cuddly and smiling children. They don’t talk a lot, they smile a lot. They tend to be close to one of the parents, more often the mother. They tend to be daydreamers, and have to watch their attentiveness. They tend to find it hard to communicate because they have so many feelings. In books, girls like love stories; boys like animals, especially how animals help one another. In toys, dolls and pets are favorites. They find it hard to stand up for themselves. For them it’s easy to gravitate toward people others don’t like. They love older people, and are easy to correct and will mind often because they don’t want to be rejected. They are usually followers not leaders.

WHAT IS YOUR MOTIVATIONAL GIFT?

(Answer the following statements with your best answer.)

1. You are at a dinner and someone knocks over their coffee. Would you say:

1. “Don’t feel bad. It could happen to anyone.”
2. “That’s what happens when you’re not careful.”
3. “Oh let me help you clean it up.”
4. “The reason that spilled was because you set it too close to the edge.”
5. “Next time let’s set your coffee near the center where it won’t get knocked over.”
6. “I’ll be happy to buy you a new cup of coffee.”
7. “Mary, get a rag. Jim, go get a mop. Jane, help pour a new cup of coffee.”

2. It’s supper time and the meal isn’t ready. It is late and family members are in a hurry. Would you say: