March 10, 2014
WHY CAN'T I DO THAT?
1 Corinthians 12:12-31
Callie Nixon
Central Truth
God has equipped us all with incredible gifts. Instead of spending time yearning for what we see in others, we should rejoice in and develop the beautiful ways God has wired us, so that we might serve Him better (1 Timothy 1:12).
Key Verse | 1 Corinthians 12:12
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12)
1 Corinthians 12:12-31
One Body with Many Members
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves 1 12:13 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
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. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, 2 12:20 Or members; also verse 22 yet one body.
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, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But 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. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
And I will show you a still more excellent way.
Dive Deeper | 1 Corinthians 12:12-31
Here's the deal -- I LOVE to dance. My poor husband has learned that just after the "to have and to hold, in sickness and in health" part of marriage vows, I snuck in (oh P.S., you must watch dance shows with me for the rest of your life, mmmkay?). He doesn't remember that part. . . .
In my own mind, as I prance around in my Zumba class, I'm a leading "Latin lady" or an extra in the newest rap video. There's only one problem -- those darn mirrors. The minute I look up and see what is actually happening in the reflection, the reality of my "skill" snaps into focus, and I get catastrophically depressed that the Music Video Awards are, in fact, not in my future.
Aren't we all like that? As believers, we tend to compare ourselves with one another and elevate gifts that put people in the limelight. How easy it is to delude ourselves that we are not "worth" as much to God's kingdom because we don't draw fire down from heaven with our passionate "Wagner-style" preaching, or create works of art, or inspire hearts to intimacy through song. Paul refutes that lie by reminding us that God has equipped every person with different and beautiful gifts. Just as all parts in our human body serve different functions to make up one person, so the greater body of Christ is compiled of people serving God with many different gifts.
In the "Mom World," I see parallels to this quite often. Frequently, I have to pray that I won't look at my friends and feel lacking because I'm not as creative, organized, or intentional with my girls as they are with their kiddos. As Theodore Roosevelt said, "Comparison is the thief of joy." I don't want anyone or anything stealing my joy! Let's together endeavor to walk this day and the ones to come in a manner worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1), thankful to a great Master who brings unity through diversity, and grows us to maturity and completion in Christ (James 1:4)!
Discussion Questions
1. Are you aware of your spiritual gifts? What are they?
2. How are you currently deploying your gifts to serve the body of Christ and further God's kingdom?
3. What do Psalm 139:13-16, 1 Samuel 16:7, and Philippians 1:6 say about what God thinks when He looks at you? How can you live in that truth today?