1 Corinthians 12:14-25

I Corinthians 12

14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many.

15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body…

18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose…

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable…

24…God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.

Note- go to I Corthinthians 12 and read this passage in its entirety!

The church is described as the body of Christ. We are to function and work together, using our individual roles to form a complete, healthy church. We know this. Yet so many of us fail to plug in… we don’t complete our role in the body of Christ and the church is hurting because of this.

Yes… hurting. Make no mistake, the church is lacking in the area where you are needed—God designed you to fill a function in the body. Is there any part of your own human body that doesn’t have a job? Sure, maybe you can function without a finger, a leg, a kidney… But are you then as capable and healthy as you could be? The church body is the same way.

Earlier in this chapter, Paul is discussing spiritual gifts and he notes that we all have gifts. There is something that you are good at that God has specifically gifted you in. How can you use this to bless the body of Christ?

We are tempted to look around at the prominent positions in the church and create a checklist of roles we can’t fill. Maybe you can’t play an instrument or sing… maybe you don’t feel like you can teach a Sunday School class… maybe children frustrate you or you think teens are scary. These are just the ‘prominent’ positions in the church, that are easily visible. Verses 22-24 note that the other functions in the church, those that are less visible, are the indispensible ones, and they actually hold more honor in God’s eyes.

Maybe you are really good at cleaning, yard work or gardening… What about cooking or caring for those experiencing hard times? Maybe you’re good at making coffee, folding bulletins, restocking pews with pens and envelopes or maybe you have an eye for logistics when it comes to big events… Or you’re good with computers and are tech saavy… whatever God is gifted you in, there is a place for you.  Use your gift to help care for and nurture the body of Christ.