Composed to Care

“There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;  and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;  and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.  To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good…  All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

“For 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. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body…

“But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be?  As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

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

“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-7,11-13a,18-27

Creative in design, purposeful in plan and execution, the Creator made and inspired varieties of gifts, desires, abilities, and activities. Just as His creation was completed as good, good, and very good, so His exquisite fashioning of His crowning jewel, mankind, was crafted to bring very good to His people. Mutual working, honor, and care would bring the best into and out of His children for His kingdom’s sake. (Genesis 1:31)

Much is taught in current culture about fulfilling our destiny and desires, being our best selves, doing whatever we set our minds to do, living our best life now. The world’s mantra is ‘me,’ the driving thrust self-satisfaction. But the ways of the Lord are subversive to the world’s finest tenets. The more excellent way of living is to exercise our God-given, Spirit-empowered gifts for the good and care of His Body, the church. ‘Fulfillment’ and ‘best’ are not motivations, but glorious, God-given results as we commit our gifts, service, and activities to Jesus.

Life geared to personal pursuits and pleasure is oriented completely differently from Body living led and fueled by the Spirit. Our priorities of how we spend attention, affection, and time reveal for whom we care the most. How much do we care about God’s plans? How well are we caring for His people, building up strengths, encouraging opportunities to exercise talent and particular wisdom, working together to expand God’s kingdom? What are we investing in that supports and energizes the Body to spiritual growth and fruitfulness? (Ephesians 4:12-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Lord, help me live out and encourage Your gifts with care, zeal, and grace, so Your purposes are realized and Your glory is magnified.