Spiritual gifts are expected to be stewarded

Summary:

Spiritual gifts can be described as being given to those who are in Christ. People can even be described as having spiritual gifts until death. This may open a question: are there any expectations regarding them?

Spiritual gifts are expected to be STEWARDED. 

This implies several things:

1) Spiritual gifts are entrusted but remain the property of the giver. 

2) Spiritual gifts are given for specific goals. 

3) Those goals are expected to be achieved.

4) The giver holds accountable the steward for what is expected, and rewards that one accordingly (positively or negatively). 

You can find more details below:

Spiritual gifts can be described as being given to those who are in Christ:

Spiritual gifts can be described as being given to those who are in Christ.

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List of spiritual gifts:
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People can even be described as having spiritual gifts until death.

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People can be described as having spiritual gifts until death:
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Spiritual gifts are expected to be stewarded:

Spiritual gifts are expected to be STEWARDED. 

Peter wrote that "each received (a) GIFT, ministering it to each-other as good STEWARDS [oikonomos 3623 in Greek] (of the) diversified grace (of) God" (1 Peter 4:10). 

1) Spiritual gifts are entrusted but are not property:

Spiritual gifts are entrusted but remain the property of the giver. 

For example Jesus said: "There-was (a) certain RICH MAN who had (a) STEWARD [oikonomos 3623 in Greek]. And this (one) was-accused (to) him as squandering HIS POSSESSIONS" (Luke 16:1). 

Here when THE RICH MAN addressed the STEWARD, he referred to what was entrusted to the steward as "HIS POSSESSIONS" (Luke 16:1), that is, the RICH MAN'S POSSESSIONS. 

Even though the rich man gave the STEWARD possessions and the STEWARD received them and had them, the possessions were only ultimately ENTRUSTED to the STEWARD, but they remained the GIVER'S POSSESSIONS.

Paul who was "(an) APOSTLE (of) Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 1:1) wrote that "He [Christ] regarded me TRUSTWORTHY, having-appointed (me) for MINISTRY" (1 Timothy 1:12). Here Paul indicated how Christ (the giver) ENTRUSTED Paul with a MINISTRY (which is a spiritual gift). 

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Ministry:
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2) Spiritual gifts are given for specific goals:

Spiritual gifts are given for specific goals. They are not an end in themselves. 

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Spiritual gifts are given for certain goals:
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3) The goals are expected to be achieved: 

The goals (for which spiritual gifts are given) are expected to be achieved. 

For example, Jesus said in a parable illustrating stewardship in Luke 19 how a man "having-called ten (of) his (own) slaves, HE-GAVE THEM TEN MINAS and said to them, ‘DO-BUSINESS while I-am-coming’" (Luke 19:13). Here the giver expected that what he gave would be exercised, as he said: "DO-BUSINESS while I-am-coming’" (Luke 19:13).

Spiritual gifts are expected to be exercised. 

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Spiritual gifts are expected to be exercised:
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In the same parable, when the man comes back, it is written that "the first (one) arrived, saying, ‘Lord, YOUR MINA EARNED TEN MINAS’. And he-said (to) him, ‘Very-well (done), good slave" (Luke 19:16-17). Here the giver is expecting what he gave initially to have been developped, as is illustrated in principle here by how the slave said "YOUR MINA EARNED TEN MINAS" (Luke 19:16).

Spiritual gifts can be developed, and according to the stewardship pattern they are even expected to be developed. 

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Spiritual gifts can be developed:
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The language of "YOUR MINA EARNED TEN MINAS" (Luke 19:16) can also illustrate how others can be edified by a spiritual gift, which is a specific goal to achieve for why spiritual gifts are given. 

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Spiritual gifts are given for certain goals:
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4) The giver holds accountable: 

The giver holds accountable the steward for what is expected, and rewards that one accordingly (POSITIVELY or NEGATIVELY). 

For example, Jesus said in a parable illustrating stewardship in Matthew 25 how "(it is) just-like (a) man going-on-a-journey, he-called (his) own slaves and handed-over his possessions (to) them" (Matthew 25:14). 

In this parable, a steward who is faithful with what was given to him is later described as giving an account of his stewardship and is then being REWARDED POSITIVELY, as it is written: "the (one) having-received the five talents brought another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you-handed-over five talents (to) me. Look, I-gained another five talents’. His lord said (to) him, ‘Well (done), good and faithful slave. You-were faithful over (a) few (things). I-will-set you over many (things). ENTER INTO THE JOY (OF) YOUR LORD’." (Matthew 25:20-21). 

In contrast, a steward who is not faithful with what was given to him is later described as giving an account of his stewardship and is then being REWARDED NEGATIVELY, as it is written: "the (one) having-received the one talent said, ‘Lord, I-knew you, that you-are (a) hard man, reaping where you-did not sow and gathering from-where you-did not scatter (threshings). And having-become-afraid, having-gone, I-hid your talent in the ground. Look, you-have what (is) yours’. But having-responded, his lord said (to) him, ‘Evil and lazy slave! You-knew that I-reap where I-did not sow and gather from-where I-did not scatter!" (Matthew 25:24-26), "THROW-OUT THE UNPROFITABLE SLAVE INTO THE OUTER DARKNESS’. In-that-place, there-will-be the weeping and the grinding (of) teeth" (Matthew 25:30).

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