"Having then gifts differing
according to the grace that is given to us … he who exhorts, [let him be
given to] exhortation; he who gives, let him do it with simplicity; he who
rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness" (Rom.
12:6,8).

                       
He Who Exhorts

The teacher has chiefly to do with
the understanding, the exhorter with the conscience. It requires great grace to
be an exhorter, and equally great grace to receive the word of exhortation. The
gift is now rare in the Church of God. Few have grace to bring the keen edge of
the Word down upon the conscience, and at the same time make the person feel
that love rules, and that his good is the only object in view. Exhortation
includes admonition, consolation, urging to practical duties, dissuading from
the neglect of duty, pointing out shortcomings, applying the promises or the
threatenings of Scripture as the case may be. But we need not dwell on the
difficulties of the exhorter, and the still greater difficulty of submitting to
the exhortation. They must be apparent to all. Personal feelings are apt to
arise and false motives to be imputed; still, the apostle presses the exercise
of the gift as needed and wholesome for the members of the body of Christ. The
Lord grant that in this day of highmindedness, of insubjection to the Word of
God, our lives may be a constant testimony to the will of Christ, and our
diligent attention to the things of the Lord both publicly and privately, a
constant exhortation to our fellow Christians. Then it will be not only,
"Do as I say," but "Do as I do."

                        
He Who Gives

He who has been prospered by the
Lord, and who gives of his substance for the needs of the poor or the work of
the Lord, is to do it with simplicity. Here let us pause a moment and
consider this weighty caution. It is most difficult to distribute money
according to this principle of God’s Word. The word "simplicity" here
is the same as that in the verse, "in singleness of heart, fearing
God" (Col. 3:22; also Eph. 6:5; 2 Cor. 1:12). How searching is the Word of
God! It guards against ostentation, love of praise, wrong motives, and improper
objects. On the other hand, it warns us against all evasive pretexts, such as,
"Not convenient; I have so many calls; I am not able to give." (Ed.
note:Probably one of the more common of these evasive pretexts today is,
"I cannot claim it as a deduction when figuring my income tax.")

 

At the same time, the Christian is
but a steward, whether he distributes what may be called his own, or the bounty
of the church, and he is entitled to look for "simplicity and godly
sincerity" in the applicant as well as in himself. There are many
plausible appeals made for money, which, when carefully examined, are found to
be neither simple nor sincere. He must also watch against the clever pleader
putting his soul in bondage and making him unhappy. There is only one remedy
for all the difficulties connected with giving, as for all other things. The
giver must walk before the Lord with purity of motive, free from all improper
designs, and waiting to do His will with an honest, impartial simplicity. When
the eye is single, the whole body is full of light; perplexity with darkness
flees away, the mind of God is discerned, and the clear light of heaven shines
on the steward’s way.

                        
He Who Rules

Those who are called to exercise
the gift of ruler or leader in the assembly of God are required to do so with
the closest attention and zeal. Much sorrow, alienation of feeling, coldness,
and irregularity in attendance might be prevented by the watchful and faithful
discharge of the ruler’s duties. Prevention is better than cure, and in nothing
more so than in a community of free, intelligent, but sensitive minds
encompassed with many infirmities. He needs a skillful eye to watch the
countenance, to mark the movements, and to notice the first change in conduct.
One may be observed hurrying off rather quickly at the close of a meeting so as
to avoid speaking or being spoken to. Why is this? It was not so lately. On
inquiry, it is found that offense has been taken from supposed neglect, or the
heart has been wounded by the apparent partiality of the ruler himself.
Misunderstanding prevails.

Such a state of things calls for
immediate, faithful, wise, and tender dealing. There may be faults on both
sides; grace must reign; still, that which is right must not be overlooked. But
carelessness or indolence on the part of the ruler at such a moment might be
ruinous to the peace and the prosperity of the assembly. The strong must bear
with the weak, and anything like partiality, especially on the part of those
who have influence in a meeting, must be carefully avoided. Though we cannot
love all alike, we must not manifest our love to some to the grief and wounding
of others. Vigilance and fidelity must be the watchword of the ruler, but he
must not forget to cherish and manifest the love of Him who died for the flock,
and rose again to fold in His everlasting embrace His blood-bought sheep and
lambs.

                     
He Who Shows Mercy

This is a fine gift, and one much
to be coveted by all who visit the poor and the afflicted. We are not only to
show mercy, but to show it with such a cheerful spirit as to manifest that, if
it be a consolation to them, it is a pleasure to us. The value of any service
of love rendered to the children of sorrow mainly depends on the spirit in
which it is done. It should be our watchful study to spare the feelings of the
poor in our acts of benevolence, to soothe the sorrows of the sick, to shed a
bright radiance in the chamber of suffering or death, and always to leave
behind us the sweet fragrance of the name of Jesus.

 

(From Meditations on Christian
Devotedness [Romans 12].)