The spiritual gift of ministry is a gift people want around, but they themselves don’t want to have. They want to see it in action, but don’t want to be the person taking that action. The gift of ministry is a highly prided spiritual gift very few actually want. Why is that?

The Baby of the Family

Some gifts, especially when they are strong or desirable, can cause others to look with envy at the possessor of that gift. While this isn’t ideal, unfortunately, it is true. Thankfully not all of the gifts are like that. Take, for instance, the gift of ministry.

This particular gift is the baby of the family that everyone loves to have around. You will seldom meet anyone who covets it. No one ever accuses someone of striving for position while operating in this gift. In fact, everyone wants this gift in their lives. What is so special about the gift of ministry (service)? The most succinct way I know how to answer that question is by saying it is because it is humble. When someone is administering in the gift of service, they are putting other people’s needs above their own, as this is the beautiful point of this self-effacing gift.

An honest observation I’ve seen is that everyone wants the gift of service in their vicinity, but no one seems to actually want the gift of service bestowed upon them. It flies in the face of our cultural standards. We are all about protecting our…