The sermon today
Our vicar is a really, really good preacher. He preached today on the Epistle lesson from 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. This is a familiar Scripture about the unity of the body. One of the things that he said that really struck me was that we don't have our place in the body because of our giftedness, we have our place in the body because of our faith.
I got to thinking about this. Not one of us would say that we are saved and made Christians by any sort of merit of our own. That is solely God's work, imputed to us by grace through faith. But I think that in the church, there can be an attitude of hierarchy, of viewing others according to their gifts and their willingness to use them.
So often I hear members who are highly involved in the work of the church complain about those who don't seem to be "pitching in". I'm not talking about those members who are clearly gifted but are refusing to exercise their gift. I mean the women in the ladies group who gripe that they ALWAYS have to make sandwiches for a funeral and why can't so and so help, they don't do anything anyways. Or the couple who complains that they aaaalllways have to greet and if everybody took their turn... And underneath it there seems to be an attitude that they are more important/more useful than a "mere" worshipper. In truth, I too am guilty of this kind of judging, Lord forgive me. But Paul says those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are actually indispensible. Gulp.
If I am gifted, then I should use my gift joyfully in service to the Lord, always remembering where I got my gift from in the first place. All should use exercise their gifts, yes, as God composed the body just so. If there are those who refuse to exercise their gifts, I should encourage them and be patient with them. If there are those whose gifts are not readily apparent to me, I must give thanks to God for them, because he has given them honour as well.
6 comments:
Amen! It seems the same ol people do all the work in our church too, I guess it is that way everywhere in every church; 20% of the people do 80% of the work. But I think of the body of Christ, the church, as a pot of soup, each ingredient having it's own part. The meat, is the heart of the church, the old reliables that keep unity. The onions and pepper are the ones you can't get too close too, they are too strong (personalities)and stir up trouble. The vegetables, these are the ones that mingle and fill in here and there and gives the soup balance. Then last, the salt and broth, these are the people that keep peace and bring everyone together, full bodied and together we all have a purpose in the body of Christ.
Gifts that are apparent and some people just have listening gifts as well. We don't know what they go out after the service and during the week and spread God's Word, in that case they a good Witness. I too get aggrivated and burned out by doing the same ol stuff, but pray and God will rise up new leaders and helpers. I often ask my self when I get to be a grouch about the lack of volunteers, what ingredient of the soup am I being.
Thanks for sharing this. God knows everyones heart, He knows what type of worker we all really are.
It can be hard, especially when you belong to a small church to be one of the old reliables. Still we need to remember that God people along at different speeds. Besides you don't pitch in with a willing heart what good does it do you personally even if you're one of the old reliables? In God's eyes it's better not to do it at all if you can't do it with a cheerful heart.
Oohhh, I LIKE this! I hadn't really thought about our place in the body by giftedness vs. faith. Wonderful revelation! And, I am convicted as well. Needed to be reminded that one gift is no better or "higher" than another! Thanks!!
That was a good sermon. I see we all struggle with the same issues. I am guilty. I think I have been on both ends of the spectrum. In my home church, I often felt over burdened with responsibility and saw the "same ones" respond over and over. Thank God for their faithfulness.
I also witnessed the "smugness" of those who thought "God couldn't do this without me" Amazing what He does without our help, huh?
You said it 'use my gift joyfully in service to the Lord'. It can get frustrating for some BUT it is no longer being done for God when we lose our joy.
Good post.
thanks
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