Our talents, skills and gifts are not there for our own use; they aren’t even there for our own benefit, necessarily. They are there so that we can be an active, vibrant part of the body of Christ. In this way we fulfill God’s call for our lives. In this way we demonstrate and complete his love for the body.
The Bible repeatedly uses the metaphor of the body to describe this tie. Each part of your body – arms, lips, fingernails, knees – serves a purpose. Naturally, it is best when the body works from a full set of parts, and when those parts function together without ailment or sickness. But that isn’t always the case in our own lives, nor in the life of the Church. We can look at this from both a positive and a negative angle…
Positive
Understanding the body metaphor in scripture has great value. It tells us that we need what others have to offer, that we were not meant to “go it alone”. It tells us that others need us! That should be a great encouragement – not to boast about our abilities, but to find satisfaction in God’s plan. It is not going to be easy, surrendering pride and accepting others’ assistance. It seems we have soaked up the idea that accepting help is failure, or something beneath us. That is not how God sees it. We need each other, without any reservation.
Negative
The flip-side is that if you are not an active part of the body, something is amiss! There are people who need what you have to offer. And you need what they have to offer. No one is able to do it all on their own. Life requires richer skills than any of us has independently. Even Jesus required companions to share in his struggles and labor – and often we find the disciples’ lack of care in the garden despicable! But do we not act the same when we fail to serve the body by giving of our talents and gifts, our personality and background?
So that is today’s thought. You have a part to play. Well, that metaphor sells short who you are. Faith is not just acting, playing a part; you are being, and even becoming, what God always intended. And what God wants is more than just personal faith, but community. Not just belonging – but needing and being needed for who you are and what you have to offer.
Thanks be to God!
Now all of you together are Christ’s body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.
1 Corinthians 12:271 Corinthians 12:27
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
27 Together you are the body of Christ. Each one of you is part of his body.
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