Which part of your body would you say is the most
important? Which would you say is the least? Have you ever hurt a “minor” part
of your body only to realize how much you take it for granted when it works
properly?
I was playing tickle monster with the kids two
weeks ago and I stubbed my baby toe (or “foot piggy,” as Sarah calls it) while
I was running through the house. It ended up being more than a stubbed toe. I
either sprained or broke it and the pain has persisted. I’ve been wearing flops
most of the time, as it’s most comfortable. Now I realize how important even my
baby toe is!
Similarly, we can take for granted other members of
the body of Christ (other believers).
Romans
12:3-5 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.
Who
do you and I look down on, thinking our talents, gifts and abilities
are better?
Or why do you and I compare our responsibilities to those of
others?
Where do you and I need to value the different gifts of others in our
family and local churches?
Paul says we aren’t to think more highly (or lowly)
of ourselves as we have different functions but form one body in Christ.
We’re
all needed and of great importance!