Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
The apostle Paul is writing to the early Christian community in Rome about spiritual gifts — specific abilities he believed God distributes among different people so the whole group can thrive. In this verse, he names four gifts: encouragement, generosity, leadership, and showing mercy. His point isn't just to name the gifts, but to say each one should be exercised fully — without holding back. Notably, he pairs each gift with a manner: leaders should lead diligently, givers should give generously, and mercy-givers should do it cheerfully. The way you use your gift matters as much as the gift itself.
Lord, you've wired me in a specific way — give me the confidence to lean into that fully, without apology or half-heartedness. Where I've used my gifts grudgingly or out of obligation, forgive me. Teach me what it looks like to encourage, lead, give, or show mercy with the kind of wholeness that reflects you. Amen.
Notice what Paul attaches to mercy: cheerfulness. Not reluctant mercy. Not mercy offered with a sigh and a slight eye-roll. Cheerful mercy. That's a quietly radical idea, because mercy by definition goes to people who don't deserve it — and cheerfulness is hard to manufacture when you're helping someone who caused their own mess. But Paul seems to suggest that if mercy is genuinely your gift, it won't feel like a burden. It'll feel like the thing you were made to do. What's your gift in this list? Maybe you've never thought of "encouraging people" as a spiritual calling — it sounds ordinary compared to, say, prophecy or healing. But Paul treats it with the same weight. The question is whether you're doing it fully — whether you're leaning into what you're wired for, or half-doing it out of embarrassment or exhaustion. You don't have to have every gift. But the one you have? Do it with everything you've got.
Looking at the four gifts Paul mentions — encouraging, giving, leading, showing mercy — which one resonates most with how you naturally engage with people, and why?
Paul specifies a manner for each gift: generously, diligently, cheerfully. Is there a gift you use, but without that quality — perhaps leading with anxiety, or giving with invisible strings attached?
Do you think everyone has a dominant spiritual gift, or can someone equally embody all four? What would it mean for a community if everyone assumed they only needed one?
How does it change a relationship when someone uses their gift reluctantly versus wholeheartedly? Can you think of a time you experienced both from the same person?
This week, what is one specific, concrete way you could exercise your natural gift more fully — not in a grand gesture, but in an ordinary, unremarkable moment?
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
1 Timothy 5:17
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly , according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Romans 12:3
Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
2 Timothy 1:6
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly , or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Hebrews 10:25
As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another , as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
1 Peter 4:10
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
1 Corinthians 12:28
For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
Matthew 25:14
or he who encourages, in the act of encouragement; he who gives, with generosity; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy [in caring for others], with cheerfulness.
AMP
the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
ESV
or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
NASB
if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
NIV
he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
NKJV
If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
NLT
if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.
MSG