S176P8 – His pleasure in His people: each member at work

1 Cor. 12:15-19

If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?  And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?  If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing?  If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?  But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.  And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

My morning began with car trouble as I tried to make my way to church.  Ultimately, I had to turn around and head back home.  A family friend stopped by later to take a look and figure out what the problem was.  After some diagnostic testing, he let me know that a sensor had failed and needed replacement.  I was clearly frustrated with all of this complex electronic mumbo-jumbo and wondered why this car could not have been designed a different or simpler way.  I blamed the problem on over-design and an unnecessary complication of things.  Then, as he explained how the system works and what a benefit that sensor is, I realized my foolishness.  This design, although a headache at that moment, was there to make the car safer and more reliable.

We can use any number of metaphors to illustrate how each member of the body of Christ contributes to the whole.  This passage and others draw a parallel to the human body.  Each part has its function, and they work in concert to operate the whole in unity.  It is just like a car.  There are many different systems with different functions, but they work together to move the vehicle forward in a safe manner.  Just as each eye and hand have their function, and each transmission and carburetor have their function, each member of the body of Christ has his or her function.  God has designed us each to play a role, and He has done this for his pleasure.  It pleases him when we recognize that role and walk in it.  This is all about submission to his plan.

I am sure that many of us have looked upon the gifts or offices of others and thought that we would prefer them.  Likewise, others might look at my gifts or one of your offices and prefer to have that.  The thing is that God has determined for each of us what our kingdom talents and our role in the body will be.  What He wants is for us to trust that He knows best and to fulfill the part He gives us to carry out.  The eye cannot spend its life envious of the foot or it will accomplish nothing it was designed to do.  Whether these things are permanent or seasonal, let us walk in the destiny God has ordained for us.  Father, help us to yield to your design for our lives, fulfilling the role You have perfectly assigned to each of us.