We need each other. God created us to live in community. We are
dependent on the body of Christ – even if some of us don’t want to admit our
need for others, for whatever reason it is.
“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 judgement, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of
you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members
do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body,
and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according
to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in
accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching,
then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving,
then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show
mercy, do it cheerfully (Rom. 12:3-8).”
The past week I have had to really depend on my teammates. We
have had really long days of ministry here in Uganda. Everyday we are teaching
in the school, or evangelizing, and every night ends with a group of Africans
waiting to hear a “word of God” from the visitors. Rest is not in our
vocabulary. I have done things I don’t feel capable of doing. Like 7 single
women holding a conference on marriage, or teaching a lesson to kids on
directions, when I myself am directionally-challenged. As sisters in Christ, we
have learned to really share our burdens together. When I am weak, my teammates
are strong. The body of Christ is meant to edify one another and build each
other up with the Truth.
Also as a member of the body of Christ, we each have an assigned
role in the body. On this trip I have spent time comparing myself to my
teammates. I have thought that their gifts and talents were of greater value to
the Kingdom, than the gifts and talents God has given me. I want to share with
you that is not true. Not one is greater than the other. If all of us could
lead, than who would be left to show mercy? I know it sounds cheesy but lets
say my arm said to my leg, “I am more important than you, I don’t need you.”
How would my body walk? For the body to function well it needs every member of
it. Of course the body can get by for awhile without a leg, but the whole body
suffers, right? It is the same with the body of Christ. If you decide not to
serve on the Praise and Worship team at church because you think someone else
sings better, well maybe God wanted you to serve because he needed you to
minister to someone that would relate to you best. The body of Christ suffers.
So don’t compare yourself with others, because no one encompasses all the
gifts, so we all need each other. Do what God has called you to do and created
you to do, so that the body of Christ may grow.
