The gift of helps (helping) is often combined with another gift, as if they were simply two words for the same gift. It is most often combined with the gift of service, and this combination may be called the gift of supporting or the gift of ministry. Some authors mention that the two gifts express a similar idea, but they offer no further evidence for combining them. The fact that some authorities see helps and hospitality as the same gift and others see helps and mercy as the same gift may point to the arbitrary nature of combining gifts.
Those who distinguish between the two gifts, however, often point out important differences: “Although the gifts of helps and serving are separate gifts, they are closely related[1]” ; “The gifts of service and helping overlap under the umbrella of ministry. A fine distinction between the two is that those gifted with service are more task-oriented, like the repair persons. Those gifted with helps are more people-oriented[2]”.
The following quote offers a better, though also timid, distinction:
“People with the gift of helps tend to a person centered ministry. Their spiritual gift is to help others, often in a one-to-one situation[4].”
In the personality type literature, portraits of the ISFJ describe this ability: “Much satisfaction comes to them when they are taking care of the needs of another and they render the service gently and helpfully[5].”
“ISFJs find meaning in life by serving human needs and making others happy[6].” .
Tim Blanchard, in Finding Your Spiritual Gifts, defines the Greek word for helps:
ISFJs are willing to respond to the requests of others, but may anticipate needs before a request is made:
This quote also illustrates the difference between helps and service. We may serve others by doing things for them, but we help others with tasks in which they are already involved.
Summary: For each of the 16 personality types there is a common theme or set of related themes that run through the various descriptions of that type. For the ISFJ the main theme is a hard-working, dependable, and helpful person. This theme matches very well with the gift of helping. A secondary theme seen in the ISFJ is that of protecting one’s charges. Though not as directly related it is easy to see how the people who feel most responsible for the basic needs of another, often with an eye toward freeing them to focus on their own calling, would see safety and security as among those basic needs that require caring for. The ISFJ type is then a very good match for the gift of helping.
References
[1] Kenneth Kinghorn, Gifts of the Spirit (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1976), 82.
[2] Stuart Calvert, Uniquely Gifted: Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts (Birmingham: New Hope, 1993), 65.
[3] Donald Hohensee and Allen Odell, Your Spiritual Gifts (Wheaton, Il.: Victor, 1992), 89.
[4] Ibid., 89.
[5] David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates, Please Understand Me (Del Mar: Prometheus Nemesis, 1978), 194.
[6] Otto Kroeger and Janet M. Thuesen, Type Talk (New York: Broadman Press, 1988), 219.
[7] Tim Blanchard, A Practical Guide to Finding Your Spiritual Gifts (Wheaton, Il.: Tyndale House, 1983), 26.
[8] Susan Scanlon, “Type and the Brain, part three,” The Type Reporter vol. 3 no. 3 (August, 1988): 4.
Those who distinguish between the two gifts, however, often point out important differences: “Although the gifts of helps and serving are separate gifts, they are closely related[1]” ; “The gifts of service and helping overlap under the umbrella of ministry. A fine distinction between the two is that those gifted with service are more task-oriented, like the repair persons. Those gifted with helps are more people-oriented[2]”.
The following quote offers a better, though also timid, distinction:
The gifts of helps and service are two closely related gifts. The Greek word for helps in I Corinthians 12:28 means being a help or support for those in need. The gift of service (Romans 12:7) comes from the Greek word for deacon which means “one who serves.” We are not seeking to draw a sharp line of distinction between these two gifts, only to point out some shades of distinction.[3]
“People with the gift of helps tend to a person centered ministry. Their spiritual gift is to help others, often in a one-to-one situation[4].”
In the personality type literature, portraits of the ISFJ describe this ability: “Much satisfaction comes to them when they are taking care of the needs of another and they render the service gently and helpfully[5].”
“ISFJs find meaning in life by serving human needs and making others happy[6].” .
Tim Blanchard, in Finding Your Spiritual Gifts, defines the Greek word for helps:
The biblical word for “helps” (I Corinthians 12:28) is translated from the compound Greek word antilapsis. The word is made up of two parts: anti, “opposite, instead of and in exchange for”; and lambano, “to grasp, seize or take up helpfully.” The parts combine to mean in the noun form, “to seize something in front of one for the purpose of helping.” This implies responding to a request to do a certain job.[7]
ISFJs are willing to respond to the requests of others, but may anticipate needs before a request is made:
They are the only ones who see the obvious. When your needs are clear, and it is clear what could be done to help you, most people, for some reason, don’t know what to do. When it is clearly right to offer a hand most people stand there and wonder if they should. But ISFJs always seem to be doing the obvious thing that escapes the rest of us. They are quiet heroes to many people.[8]
This quote also illustrates the difference between helps and service. We may serve others by doing things for them, but we help others with tasks in which they are already involved.
Summary: For each of the 16 personality types there is a common theme or set of related themes that run through the various descriptions of that type. For the ISFJ the main theme is a hard-working, dependable, and helpful person. This theme matches very well with the gift of helping. A secondary theme seen in the ISFJ is that of protecting one’s charges. Though not as directly related it is easy to see how the people who feel most responsible for the basic needs of another, often with an eye toward freeing them to focus on their own calling, would see safety and security as among those basic needs that require caring for. The ISFJ type is then a very good match for the gift of helping.
References
[1] Kenneth Kinghorn, Gifts of the Spirit (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1976), 82.
[2] Stuart Calvert, Uniquely Gifted: Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts (Birmingham: New Hope, 1993), 65.
[3] Donald Hohensee and Allen Odell, Your Spiritual Gifts (Wheaton, Il.: Victor, 1992), 89.
[4] Ibid., 89.
[5] David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates, Please Understand Me (Del Mar: Prometheus Nemesis, 1978), 194.
[6] Otto Kroeger and Janet M. Thuesen, Type Talk (New York: Broadman Press, 1988), 219.
[7] Tim Blanchard, A Practical Guide to Finding Your Spiritual Gifts (Wheaton, Il.: Tyndale House, 1983), 26.
[8] Susan Scanlon, “Type and the Brain, part three,” The Type Reporter vol. 3 no. 3 (August, 1988): 4.
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