God has given that example for each of us to understand, as it applies directly to the Body of Christ, all Christians working together for God’s glory. While there are many gifts and talents in the Body of Christ, none are greater or lesser in comparison to each other. What would the gift of teaching matter if there was no one to be a student? Additionally, to a man living alone in the outer reaches of the desert, who would be there to encourage him?
12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.
15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16 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? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And 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.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
1 Corinthians 12:12-26
Just as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life lead to sin, our lust and pride cause dissension in the Body of Christ. What happens when the big toe decides to forego his “little job,” as he desires to be the mouth? That big toe gives us strength in walking, and without him, we weakly would limp along. Even the smallest toe has an individual job, giving us balance. Thumbs are not just used for hitchhiking, either. Remember, there are no small jobs in the Body of Christ, only a small understanding of what God is accomplishing with those jobs.
Willingness to use those gifts for the benefit of the Body is a major part of the problem. Most televangelists exemplify the wrong behavior, desiring to be in that position for wealth and attention. God has given us the greatest example in the Holy Spirit, though equal with Father and Son, He always points to Jesus, not self. In the same manner, Jesus always does the will of the Father. They don’t bicker and backbite concerning size of gift, but instead are One, just as the Body of Christ is supposed to be! Do you desire to use your gift in a bigger way?
His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
Matthew 25:21
Instead of yearning for a different gift or talent, look for the opportunities that God places in your path to use the gifts He has given. With priorities in order of using gifts for the benefit of others, rather than self, God will perform amazing miracles, even with the smallest of gifts. To bury the gift is offensive to He who gave it to you, as it is for His glory! Even if you are the little toe of the body, helping others to walk in balance, we will fall without you! When we fall together, we all will say, “I ‘toed’ you so!”
14 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
Matthew 25:14-28
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