The Distribution of Gifts

“But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said, ‘When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.’ (In saying, ‘He ascended,’ what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)” Verses 7-10.

If Jesus had not first descended to the lower parts of the earth, His present glory would have done us no good.

“Though he was in the form of God, [He] did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth....” Philippians 2:6-10.

The crux of the mystery of godliness is this: descending to the lower parts of the earth. Jesus did this by partaking of flesh and blood and becoming like His brothers in every respect. Down there, in the lower parts of the earth, we don’t have great thoughts about ourselves. Down there, sin in the flesh is revealed; down there, we are able to behold Christ manifested in flesh. We can never see such things on Mount Tabor, so let us keep to the lower parts of the earth; it’s up to God whether He will exalt us from there, in His time. The further down to the lower parts of the earth we go, the more noble our attitude of mind becomes, and the greater are the burdens that we can bear. Christ is now exalted, and He has a keen interest in those who are intent on humbling themselves. He bestows on these souls the greatest and most glorious gifts, because they need it the most.

The world wants to ascend, to be exalted. Worldly people want to sit on the mount of the congregation, on the farthest sides of the north. (Isaiah 14:13.) Jesus descended. “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away....” Isaiah 53:7-8. Everyone is encompassed by Jesus, because He went further down than anyone. And being found in appearance as a man, He continued to go the way down and was obedient unto death, even death on a cross.

No one has anything he can lay claim to, but each and every one of us has received grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Though the distribution of the gifts varies greatly, both God’s grace and His gifts are distributed in such a way that one member’s measure of grace comes to the aid of another member’s weakness. One member can, therefore, by the grace given to him, be a shepherd’s staff for another member whose grace and gifts are in other areas. In this way one member will always be helping the other member, both consciously and unconsciously; so even the member who cannot be said to be a “worker in the ministry” shares, through his grace and his gifts, a mutual bond with the leader of the church, providing help and support where the leader is weak.

Through this distribution of the gifts we get yet another glimpse of Christ’s love, which He lavishes upon us in all wisdom and understanding in order to promote our spiritual welfare and growth in grace.