If we are to use our gifts in the right way—for God’s glory—we need to be good people. It is only good people who will use their gifts appropriately. Therefore, God’s grace in us stirs us up to use our gifts. It gives us a love for God and a love for people, so that we do not lead selfish, self‑centred lives. We want to help. We want to be of benefit to others. We want to do whatever we can to make their life easier, to bring them to Christ, and to see to the upbuilding of the church. That is the work of God’s grace in us. Grace stirs up gifts. Grace helps us to use our gifts in the right way and with the right motives. Grace makes us sensitive and kind.

We have all met gifted people who have great abilities, but who are so insensitive. They have got a hide like a rhinoceros; they go in recklessly and, instead of helping, they make the situation far, far worse. When people see them coming, they try to get out of their way, because they have suffered at their hands before. They are undeniably gifted—there is no question about that—but they use their gifts in such a clumsy, awkward way that their gifts are robbed of value. We have met other people who are gifted, but they are arrogant. They are full of themselves. When they are using their gifts, you get the impression that they are saying, Look at me! See how clever I am! How able I am!

Therefore, it is not enough to have gifts; we need the grace of God to help us to use our gifts sensitively, appropriately, and humbly—not with self display. You can tell whether somebody is really interested in you, or whether they are really interested in themselves; whether they are trying to help you, or whether they are helping you to meet some need in themselves.

1 Corinthians 13:1–13 is a superb reminder of the danger of gifts without grace, and how gifts need grace. Paul says, I may be able to prophesy, work miracles, have great faith, and give all I have to the poor, but if I have not got love, it is not worth anything. Then it does not count for anything. Gifts need grace.

I remember the most brilliant teacher I ever had. It was my English teacher. I loved his classes because I was good at English. He was a superb teacher, but he was a cold cynical, very sarcastic man. And looking back, two‑thirds of the class must have hated his class, because he lampooned, ridiculed, and made fun of them. He was a very abrasive character. Some of us could take that; it did not bother us. But looking back with greater wisdom now, I wonder what it must have been like for a lot of the pupils in that class. He had huge gifts, but very little grace.

My wife and I heard recently of a prominent preacher. He is a superb preacher. He has been greatly used. He is a household name. But apparently, he is a very cold, unapproachable man. He is a man you cannot talk to. He does not even know some of his own congregation. Great gifts, but grace is lacking. Gifts need grace.