1 Corinthians 12:4-6 “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.”

We are all unique. God never intended Christians to be clones of each other. He doesn’t shove us off an assembly line where every part is interchangeable, and good quality control means that each product looks exactly the same.

No, each of us is more like a luxury product that is hand-crafted and custom-made. “There are different kinds of gifts.” Of course, we already know this. We have always seen it in our natural lives. Musical, athletic, handy, artistic, quick-witted, strong, scholarly, empathetic, organized, inspiring, eloquent, steady–you probably see some of your own traits in the list, but not all of them.

Now Paul wants us to understand that sometimes there are supernatural gifts. The Spirit gives them. They all come from the same Spirit, but the gifts aren’t all the same. You are still unique, hand-crafted, and custom-made by the Spirit’s own design.

Why should he even have to say this? You might think it is self-evident. But even supernatural gifts given by God’s Spirit can be twisted by people into an opportunity for temptation and sin. Paul is just touching on the issue here, laying the groundwork for the discussion. Later in this chapter he exposes the terrible things the Christians in Corinth did with the particular gifts they had been given.

Sometimes we use them in a prideful and self-righteous way. The Spirit gives us a gift, an ability, that another person lacks. The idea occurs to us, “Everyone should be more like me. Why don’t other people have the Biblical insight I do? Why can’t they administrate work in the church like I can? Why can’t they teach or preach or help or give the same? What is wrong with them? Thank God this is right with me!”

Sometimes we may be guilty of envy. Some of the gifts the Spirit gives put a person on center stage, like preaching or teaching. Some are more in the background, like helping others and church administration. All are mentioned as gifts the Spirit gives, but we might wonder, “Why did I get such a humble gift?” We sulk a little like the little kid who opens his present on Christmas and says, “Oh. Socks. I wanted the game console.”

Remember, these are gifts. They are expressions of God’s grace. They are another way in which he is showing us that he has loved and forgiven us. His good things come to us not because we are entitled to them or worked hard. He doesn’t owe us. He is kind and generous.

I am reminded of the story I once read–a true story, I believe– of a woman who wrote letters to her several children shortly before she died. In each letter she told that child, “You were always my favorite.” Then she went on to list some of the special gifts and talents she appreciated about that child.

You can quibble, I suppose, about the way she used the word “favorite.” It usually suggests a comparison to others. But what she was trying to say is, “I loved you like no one else and you were special to me in your own unique way.”

God has given you his Spirit. And maybe the gifts he gives you seem humble. Maybe you are even struggling to see what they are. But I assure you they are there. They fit you perfectly. And with your particular gifts he is saying, “I have loved you like no one else. You are always special to me in your own unique way.”