The Spirit of God has given to every believer one or more gifts or divine enablements for serving Christ. These differ from one another, Rom. 12:6-8. Nine gifts are listed in 1 Cor. 12:4-11, but this is not exhaustive, because gifted men are mentioned elsewhere who possess totally different gifts: apostles, evangelists, pastors, teachers, and others, 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:8-11. Gifts are given to men, while gifted men are given by the Lord to the church.
The divine order regarding gifts puts apostles first, prophets second, teachers third. Others follow in order, with tongues mentioned last, 1 Cor. 12:28. During apostolic days gifts were sometimes imparted with the laying on of hands, 1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6. Christians were instructed to desire gifts, especially that of prophecy, 1 Cor. 12:31; 14:1, which is defined in v. 3. It was revealed that some gifts would cease, 1 Cor. 13:8.
Instructions for the use of gifts are given in 1 Pet. 4:10, 11. The parable of the pounds establishes the principle that rewards will differ for differing degrees of diligence in their use, Luke 19:11-27. The parable of the talents establishes the principle that rewards will be equal for equal faithfulness on the part of believers, Matt. 25: 14-30.
William Evans, The Great Doctrines of the Bible, (Chicago: Bible Institute Colportage Assoc., 1912), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 292-293.