The Gifts

Good Morning!

As a follow up to the Bible study last night, there were four central points that the commentator made:

1. There is solidarity within the body.

12For 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. 13For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

We have a common goal – to share the message of Christ Jesus and to help each other grow in Christ. So while each of us might be differently gifted, each of the gifts work collectively to accomplish the goal.

2. Do not underestimate your gift.

14For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15If 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. 16And 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. 17If 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? 18But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

Just because you don’t have one of the more visible gifts does not mean that you have no importance in the body. Euell used the best analogy when he asked if he could have someone’s watch and take out just one little piece … and then to see if it ran. You’re gift is important in the totality of the work of the ministry.

3. Do not overestimate your gift. 2

1The 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." 22On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and 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, 24which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

In the same vein, don’t think that your gifting has greater importance than another person’s gifting. Instead, encourage each other in the using of the gifts to accomplish the goal.

4. Rejoice in the diversity of the gifts that each has. 2

7Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28And 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. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

All of the gifts are designed to build a stronger body of believers working together to reach and teach people about God’s love for us manifested through Jesus Christ. What a joy!

The chapter ends with:

And I will show you a still more excellent way.

And the more excellent way is found in 1st Corinthians 13 – a.k.a The Love Chapter. And I don’t think I can wait to give the synopsis: without love it means nothing!

But that is for another lesson on another week …

We have come to the end of this work week. I am having “fun” with the annual audit. Actually it isn’t too bad, just a little aggravating. The weekend is here and we can rest (or try to rest). Keep praying for each other – even more so as we see the day approaching.

Agape’


Mr. Jim