My Job!

There was a certain sea captain and his chief engineer who argued over which of them was most important to the ship. Failing to agree with each other, they decided to swap places. The Chief ascended to the bridge while the Captain went down into the engine room. A couple hours later the Captain suddenly appeared on the deck covered with oil and soot. “Chief!” he yelled, wildly waving a monkey wrench in the air. “You’ll have to come down. I can’t make ’er go!” The Chief quickly responded, “Of course you can’t. We’re aground!” [source: adapted from bulletin clipping]

We like to think we are significant. We like to feel our part is important. However, we get in trouble when we begin to slight others by thinking our function is the most important; that we could get by without them, but they could never make it without us doing our part.

In Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth he presented a wonderful analogy of the one body with its many parts all serving different functions. His purpose in writing was to help these brethren realize how they needed to work together in a unified way for the COMMON GOOD. Each part of the body (physical or spiritual) is necessary for the BENEFIT OF THE WHOLE. Each part is important in fulfilling the role for which it was created. Every part belongs. Each is to focus on performing its important function. To be without one impacts THE WHOLE. And if the whole body were made up of one single member fulfilling one function, how limited the body would be! (read through 1 Corinthians 12:14-26)

Can you imagine what would happen if our ears and feet switched places? They are where God placed them to do that for which they were designed. And both are important in fulfilling their particular role for the BENEFIT OF THE WHOLE BODY. Would we say that either of them is not important?

As Paul used the analogy of the body in his Roman letter, he stated…
“(4) For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, (5) so we, though many, are ONE BODY IN CHRIST, and INDIVIDUALLY MEMBERS ONE OF ANOTHER.” ( Romans 12:4-5 ESV)

We are significant. We are important. We have a function to fulfill within the body of Christ. But let us keep in perspective the BENEFIT we receive from the other members of the body so that we don’t begin to think others are less important. With this in mind, let is humbly continue to do our part for the BENEFIT OF THE WHOLE. That’s my job. It is also yours. That is the way God desires it to be. And that is of utmost importance!

Have a great day MINDFUL OF YOUR PART WITH OTHERS!
Carl

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