GIFT OF SERVING

BASIC MOTIVATION DEFINED
Motivated to demonstrate love by meeting the practical needs of others.

AMPLIFICATION
Is expressed by action and not by words.  Is exercised under the leadership of
Christ, in the strength of the Spirit, and for the glory of God. (1 Pet. 4:11)
The server detects personal needs of others and overlooks personal discomforts
in order to meet those needs.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ONE EXERCISING THIS GIFT
1.  The ability to recall specific likes and dislikes of people.
2.  The alertness to detect and meet practical needs.  Especially enjoys manual
projects.
3.  The motivation to meet needs as quickly as possible.  He doesn’t want to go
through red tape.
4.  Physical stamina to fulfill needs with disregard to weariness.
5.  The willingness to use personal funds to avoid delays.
6.  The desire to sense sincere appreciation and the ability to detect insincerity.
7.  The desire to complete a job with evidence of unexpected extra service.
Just doing a job is not enough, they want to do it extra well.
8.  An involvement in a variety of activities with an inability to say “no”.
9.  A greater enjoyment of short-range goals with frustration over long-range goals.
10.  A frustration when limitations of time are attached to jobs.

DANGERS IN EXERCISING THIS GIFT
1.  Being proud of his good deeds.
2.  Being pushy or premature in meeting the needs of others before they realize
their needs.
3.  Becoming bitter when deeds are not recognized or appreciated.
4.  Over-emphasizing practical needs to the neglect of basic spiritual needs.

MISUNDERSTANDINGS
1.  Quickness in meeting needs may appear to be “pushy”.
2.  Avoidance of red tape may result in excluding other from jobs, and “going
around others”.
3.  Their disregard for personal needs may extend to their own family’s needs.
4.  Eagerness in serving may  prompt suspicion of self-advancement.
5.  May react to others who do not detect and meet obvious needs.
6.  Insistence on serving may appear to be rejection of being served.
7.  Desire to sense sincere appreciation may result in being easily hurt.
8.  Quickness in meeting needs may interfere with spiritual lesson God is teaching
those with needs.  (Often we learn most through suffering.)
9.  Emphasizing the need to meet practical needs may be judged as lack of interest
in spiritual matters.
10.  Their stamina may be interpreted as insensitivity or impatience with others
helping.
11.  Enjoyment of short-range goals may result in leadership positions and frustra-
tion or disorganization with long-range objectives.
12.  Inability to avoid others needs may result in sidetracking employer’s directions.