Spiritual gifts
The Spiritual Gift of Helps (Service)
Meeting practical needs without needing attention
The spiritual gift of helps, also called service, is the ability to notice practical needs and gladly meet them, often without being noticed. Paul names "helping" in 1 Corinthians 12:28 and "serving" in Romans 12:7.
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
What it is
Someone has to set up the chairs, fix the leaky sink in the nursery, and pick up the older woman who can't drive to church anymore. People with the gift of helps see these things and do them, often before anyone asks.
Helpers free others to use their gifts. When the church in Acts 6 appointed seven men to run the daily food distribution, the apostles could devote themselves to prayer and teaching (Acts 6:3-4). Peter tells whoever serves to "serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 4:11).
Where Scripture shows it
On the night before He died, Jesus got up from supper, wrapped a towel around His waist, and washed His disciples' feet (John 13:4-5). Paul's letters name helpers too. Phoebe had "been a great help to many people," Paul included (Romans 16:2), and Onesiphorus "often refreshed" Paul and searched Rome until he found him in chains (2 Timothy 1:16-17).
What it can look like
- You're the first to grab a trash bag after the potluck.
- You straighten the welcome table without mentioning it to anyone.
- You'd pick running the sound board over standing up front.
- When a friend moves, you show up with a truck.
- Practical work feels like a way to love God, and you're happy for others to get the credit.
What to watch for
- Resentment when your work goes unnoticed.
- Saying yes to everything until you're exhausted.
- Doing tasks yourself because it's faster when training someone would help more.
- Letting busyness crowd out prayer and Scripture.
Ways to serve with it
- Ask your church office which tasks always need doing, and pick one.
- Join a setup or teardown team for Sunday services.
- Offer rides to people who can't drive to church or appointments.
- Help a family in your church with yard work or a repair they can't manage.
Related gifts
Holy habits that fit this gift
These practices can help you steward this gift over time.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between the gift of helps and the gift of service?
Paul names "helping" in 1 Corinthians 12:28 and "serving" in Romans 12:7. Both describe meeting practical needs, so many gift tests combine them. Some teachers see helps as supporting another person's ministry and service as meeting needs more generally.
Is the gift of helps less important than other gifts?
No. Paul says the parts of the body "that seem to be weaker are indispensable" (1 Corinthians 12:22). A church without helpers would grind to a halt, and God sees work done out of sight.
How do I know if I have the gift of helps?
Try serving on a few teams, and ask the leaders where you helped most. People with this gift usually finish a workday tired and glad, and they spot the next thing that needs doing on the way out.
Take the free Spiritual Gifts Test
Answer questions about how you like to serve, and see which gifts your answers point toward. It takes about 6-7 minutes, and no email is required.
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