I (Paul) always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Jesus Christ. Through him, God has enriched you (your life and community) in every way - giving you words and words of knowledge. This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true.
Now you have every gift* you need as you position yourself and eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from on blame when he returns. God is faithful! I Corinthians 1: 4-9
Let's expand on this word "gift." Translators say, "spiritual gift," but even that translation doesn't give credit to this gift word. In Greek, it is charisma. Strong's definition calls it a "miraculous faculty," including characteristics of deliverance or spiritual endowment. The expanded definition says it is, first, the result of faith in Jesus Christ, and, second, including extraordinary powers enabling a person to serve in grace and (divine) power operated by the Holy Spirit.
Wow! That's a confidence-builder! That should give us a new strength to live for and serve Christ. This means we can live out of strength and know that we are gifted with the right words and the knowledge to apply them. That strength is a humble confidence in the power that the Holy Spirit brings to us to use the talent, knowledge and experience given by God for the causes of the Kingdom.
Notice that "I" am neither the cause nor the beneficiary of that strength. The Holy Spirit enables me for purposes way outside of myself - the Kingdom of God. Humble partnering with that Spirit and with others also enabled can complement partnerships so that all our life stories can confirm the life story of Jesus Christ.
I know that God-given strength can be leveraged to overcome my weaknesses in several ways. That strength can be used to inform and transmute my lesser talents. It can be used in partnership to learn how others use their given strengths. It causes me to look on the "other side of the coin" in any area of weakness I hold/live with. (I have taught that in every strength there is weakness and every weakness there is strength. i.e. strength can either be used for good or for evil.)
Ultimately, I am to always keep in mind the goal: to equip others for a new life in Christ and to participate in ministry for the build-up of the body of Christ, earmarked for unity. While I benefit within the community, the benefit ultimately is for God to finally be reunited with all of his creation.
