The final two gifts in the love category are mercy and giving. Here’s the thing all Christians are called to do both, but some go above and beyond that in the empowerment of the Spirit. 

Mercy is very close to the other help gifts but there is a difference. That difference is the recipient of the gifts. The gift of mercy is directed toward others in immediate distress. C. Peter Wagner defines it as, “Mercy is a special ability that God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to feel genuine empathy and compassion for individuals who suffer distress, physical, mental, or emotional problems, and translates that compassion into cheerfully done deeds which reflect Christs love and alleviating suffering.” A great example of this is in the book of Acts in chapter 9 verse 36, which says, “In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha; she was always doing good and helping the poor.”

The Bible calls all Christians to tithe. To give 10% of the first fruits of our labor. The gift of generosity refers to the capacity to give liberally to meet the needs of others and yet to do so with a purity of motive which senses that the giving is a simple sharing of what God has given. Here are some helpful identifying traits of this gift. You find yourself earmarking certain amounts because you have a strong sense that an opportunity to give will be presented. You are tuned in to settings and lives in a way that makes you aware that a material gift would significantly impact what God is doing through a group or person’s life. You get great joy out of helping someone without them even knowing who delivered the assistance. It is a gift that seeks to give and to give generously.