Spiritual Gifts Categories: Relational Gifts

Geese are amazing creatures. When geese migrate long distances, they fly in groups. The bird in front breaks up the air for the bird behind it thus creating a forward draft that pulls the trailing bird along with it. Two engineers found that the V formation increases the flock’s flying range by 71%.

Geese provide an excellent illustration of the four spiritual gifts in the relational category. As each one is discussed, the behavior of geese will be presented that is analogous to the gift.

Encouragement / Exhortation
Geese make a lot of noise when flying in formation.  They honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

The spiritual gift of encouragement literally means “to call to one’s side.” It means to care, comfort, confront, challenge, and correct. Believers with this gift care deeply about others. They come alongside to comfort those who are hurting spiritually or emotionally. They also confront and challenge them to correct their mistakes.

Jon has the spiritual gift of encouragement/exhortation. He explains that the gift of is really two sides of the same coin; in fact, it’s the two sides of God. He is a God of love who sometimes encourages us with tender love; but at other times, He is a God of justice who exhorts us to return to him through tough love.

Everyone goes through hardship or loss at some point in life and needs encouragement and motivation to get past the issue and back on track. Jon concludes, “The gift of encouragement helps draw people closer to God or bring them back to Him.”

Hospitality
Stray geese rejoin the flock quickly.  When a goose flies alone, they experience increased drag and resistance.  They soon fly back into formation since the extra energy needed to fly alone isn’t worth it.

The spiritual gift of hospitality literally means “to welcome strangers.” It’s when the Holy Spirit working through believers to create settings that promote fellowship. Believers with this gift host people they don’t know or know well for food or shelter.

Gail has the gift of hospitality. She explains, “Hospitality is opening up your home to others to welcome them with God’s love.” The key is making your home a place where people feel comfortable, loved, and cared for, along with good food and conversation. Being with people is much more important than the food, the cleanliness of the house, the menu, or the activities. Gail says, “You want them to come away saying, ‘Wow, they really love God and are sharing His love.’”

Mercy
Geese support each other.  If a goose is sick, wounded or shot down, two others will leave the formation to accompany that goose to the ground.  These geese defend and care for the injured bird until it is ready to fly again.  Then they join another group.

The spiritual gift of mercy literally means “to help the afflicted.” It’s when the Holy Spirit works through believers to care for the hurting with cheerful acts of compassion. Those with this gift come alongside the broken and seek to lighten their load.

Nancy has the spiritual gift of mercy. She defines it simply as, “Empathy in action.” There are people everywhere who need food, clothing, housing, legal assistance, housing, and emotional support. Sometimes Nancy feels overwhelmed because people’s pain is so real. She explains, “I’ve had pain in my life and I know that it’s so important to have people in your life to share your pain, talk thing over, and unburden yourself.”

Leadership
Geese take turns leading.  The goose at the point of the V formation works harder than the other geese because they don’t benefit from drafting.  When the lead goose grows tired, it drops back and another goose moves forward to take the lead.

The spiritual gift of leadership literally means “to stand before.” It’s when the Holy Spirit works through believers to cast a vision of a preferred future.  Their underlying drive is to influence others toward a preferred future. Leaders paint word pictures that motivate others to make it a reality. They also know which job to assign which people based on their strengths.

Greg has the spiritual gift of leadership. His role as leader is to draw out the best ideas, develop the structure needed, provide meaning for people’s engagement, and tap into the sparks that get things moving.

Greg believes you will know leadership is your gift when others affirm it and when God blesses it over and above your own efforts. His final advice is, “Leaders must challenge others to bring their best everyday and to believe their best days lie ahead.”

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