We are gifted people

Our previous Romans studies has uncovered an interesting and challenging section of scripture in chapter 12, where Paul outlines specific gifts given to individual Christians, which will bring growth and maturity in the church. Interestingly, each function that is mentioned is a needed entity in the body of Christ. Roman 12:3 starts the list, and suggests that these are the gifts with which God empowers his people, and brings the working of these gifts to build the whole body.

Romans 12:3-8

³ For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your^[a] faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,^[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

 Other writings of Paul also use a physical body as an illustration, saying one part of the body should not work against another part because all parts are necessary for the entire body to function. We can see the disaster of a small insignificant toe, when it  gets the idea that since it isn’t as significant as the eye, then the toe will just stop doing its part, thinking it's not important at all. Stub that toe on the bedpost in the morning and see how the whole body will suffer for days! Even the toes are important.

We take this analogy into the realm of the body of Christ, and we can see the great truth. Each of us is to use his or her gifts or abilities, which are God-given, for the benefit of the entire body. It is only then we can expect to see God’s empowering of each of us, as we function together and bring the necessary growth and maturity. If we are in the Lord’s work and feel insignificant, or give up because we cannot seem to accomplish “the big stuff,” we are failing to see that those who do accomplish those things need the seemingly insignificant parts exercising their gifts too. We may not have the ability or the insight lead a Bible study group, or preach a sermon, but we can pray for those who do. We can support the ministries of the church in every aspect in which they are working.

One book I read several years ago asks the question, “Can you bake a cherry pie?” The writer said he couldn’t, but he did know how to mend a picket fence. God is telling us that cherry pie bakers and picket fence menders are both needed in the body of Christ.

I was surprised to read recently that Abraham Lincoln carried a newspaper clipping with him at all times, that said he was a great leader. Will Rogers made a comment on that article, “We can’t be a hero all the time. Someone has to sit on the curb and applaud as the parade goes by.” Such is God’s truth concerning the function of his gifts throughout the body of Christ. My gift of encouragement toward your gift of serving just might be the thing to bring about numerous deeds of service in areas where I am not so gifted. Perhaps we should be telling each other, “This is God’s Parade. You sit on the curb and applaud when my talents and abilities are used to his glory, and I will sit on the curb and applaud when your talents and abilities are being used to his glory.”

Regardless of whose gift is being used at any given time, it is when the body is functioning properly, we mature…..and God receives the glory. May we be ever conscious of the gifts of motivation and service that he supplies to each in the body. And further, may we be so devoted to Lord’s church that we are eager to be a part, small or large, of the overall “parade” that others may see, and bring God the glory.

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