Motivational Gifts Will Align With Your Personality

Spiritual Gifts That Redirect Natural Personality Traits

“However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: 

if prophecy, in proportion to one’s faith; if service, in the act of serving; 

or the one who teaches, in the act of teaching; or the one who exhorts, in the work of exhortation; 

the one who gives, with generosity; the one who is in leadership, with diligence; 

the one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Romans 12:6–8, NASB 2020)

1- Prophecy. 

Main Goal: Repentance.

Companion gift: Faith (also, a manifestation of the Spirit 1 Cor. 12:9)

Personality Type: Choleric, high in extraversion, very high in assertiveness, may not be as open, may be disagreeable, may appear to lack compassion and be low in politeness, may be higher in neuroticism.

2- Service.

Main goal: serving the Lord and others.

Companion gift: Love

Personality type:  melancholy or phlegmatic, high in agreeableness, compassionate, polite, higher in conscientiousness, industriousness and orderliness

3- Teaching.

Main goal: to equip people by giving them knowledge and wisdom.

Companion gift: may also be a pastor (Eph. 4:11)

Personality type: likely sanguine, higher in extraversion and conscientiousness, higher in openness

4- Exhortation.

Main goal: Encouraging people.

Personality type: sanguine, agreeable, extraverted, may be lower in conscientiousness, may be high in openness, low neuroticism

5- Giving/Generosity.

Main goal: meeting material (usually) needs of people, funding ministry

Companion gift: faith (again see 1 Cor. 12:9)

Personality type: may be melancholy or phlegmatic, agreeable, conscientious, industrious orderly, may not be high in extraversion or assertiveness, moderately enthusiastic, moderate to high in openness

6- Leadership.

Main goal: Give direction to people

Companion gift: May also be any one of the offices in the church listed in Ephesians 4:11: Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor/Teacher

Companion gift: Zeal (motivation, eagerness, diligence)

Personality type: Choleric or sanguine, high in extraversion, very high in assertiveness, high in conscientiousness, may be lower in agreeableness, may be higher in volatility

7- Mercy.

Main goal: comfort people in difficulty

Companion gift: love

Personality type: phlegmatic, may be low in extraversion because they focus on individuals over groups, very high in agreeableness, especially compassion, could be higher in neuroticism

Big Five OCEAN Personality Traits

The traits and aspects of the Big Five personality model are:

Agreeableness: Compassion and Politeness

Conscientiousness: Industriousness and Orderliness

Extraversion: Enthusiasm and Assertiveness

Neuroticism: Withdrawal and Volatility

Openness: Intellect and Aesthetics

Traditional Personality Types

Choleric: Ambitious, energetic, assertive, confident, decisive, goal-oriented.

Sanguine: Outgoing, cheerful, optimistic, sociable enthusiastic, charismatic

Melancholic: Thoughtful, introspective, analytical, sensitive, perfectionistic, loyal

Phlegmatic: Calm, reliable, peaceful, diplomatic, steady, compassionate