Faith is a first teaching about Christ (He 6:1). But evidently it is not the gift of faith. The gift of faith is larger than that. For example, the centurion. Jesus, marveled at his faith, saying, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel” (Mt 8:10). Compare this with the examples that Jesus gave to us about those with a small faith.

(a) Disciples who have their priorities out of order. “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!” (Mt 6:30).

(b) The fearful apostles of the Lord. “He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?’ Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm” (Mt 8:26).

(c) Peter who doubted. “Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ ” (Mt 14:21).

(d) The disciples who could not figure out a figure. “But Jesus, aware of this, said, ‘You men of little faith, why do you discuss among yourselves that you have no bread?’ ” (Mt 16:8).

All of these examples specifically mention the idea of having a “little faith” as compared to a great faith. Additionally, faith is not faith, unless it is “faith toward God” (He 6:1). So in order to have a great faith, that is the gift of faith, it is not about becoming a member of the “optimist club”. It is not about being optimistic vs. pessimistic. It is not simply about confidence or a positive attitude. It certainly is not about being cocky, over-confident, or having an ability to persuade others to believe, buy, or sell things. But it is, properly, about having a “faith toward God”, not anyone else, including ourselves. It is not just an attitude. But “if I have all faith [in the context of gifts], so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing” (1 Cor 13:2). So just having a great ability, even a great faith, is not both sides of the Christian talent coin. We must develop a complete agape love to accompany our talent.

Greats of Faith Had the Gift of Faith