Nothing is more humbling than to consider that God views me as a valuable member of the body of Jesus called the church. But understanding a body has many parts and that they all work toward a common goal, I fear I've taken my responsibility within the body for granted too often.

In the twelfth chapter of this letter to the Corinthians, Paul describes the special equipping of the Saints who through Jesus have come to know God's salvation. Among these various gifts, the function differs but each is given in order to be used and when it works "right," common goals are achieved by God's power.

Leading into the great love chapter of 13 Corinthians, Paul's teaching on spiritual gifts seems foundational for the Christian who would serve God. Gifts are different and given specifically to those whom God expects to serve the rest of the body. But He never intended they be used outside the network of the rest of the body. Even Paul knew, preaching the gospel was fruitless unless Apollos or someone like him "watered" it.

There is much mystery within the body as to where this "gifting" came from and how we are to use it. So, it's no wonder pastors will preach and teachers will instruct on the subject of gifts, but seldom put people be placed to work in positions of service that match their spiritual equipment. If it wasn't so serious, it would be laughable. Consider this all too frequent scenario:

A benevolent committee is formed and a leader appointed. If you have more than one prophet in the group, you will most likely have contention because leaders find it difficult if not impossible to follow someone else's lead. If you place one or more people in the group with the gift of mercy, they will likely influence the group out of sympathy for the need. A giver in the role of chairman will try to solve every problem with money and personal accountability. Finally, an administrator will be overly concerned for how the person got in the predicament and place conditions on any help, if given help is given at all.

This example serves to let you recognize two points: First, as Christians within the body of Christ, we are different and secondly, we have been equipped by God to work, but not to work alone. The impetuous nature of the prophet must be balanced with the meek attitude of the server or the body will be judgmental. The restrictive nature of the administrator must be leveraged against the creative nature of the teacher or the benevolence will be restrictive and highly conditional. All four with different attitudes, only through cooperation and deference can anything of worth be accomplished through the members of the body.

So I have a fundamental question for you: Do you know your gift? If so, what difference does it make if you know your gifting but are not using it as God intended? You might not have asked for a gift, but your failure to use it as it is intended renders it worthless.

1 Developed from Read the Bible Thru ( Es. 8:1-10:3 1 Co. 12:27-13:13 Ps. 37:1-11 Pr. 21:23-24 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

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