The Body

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. (1 Corinthians 12:21-26 NIV)

This passage came up in one of my team talks before Trinity Baptist College Soccer hit the field for a game. We were struggling with unity on the team due to some members lack of playing time. I knew that any division on the team would bring the team down and effect us on the field. A lot of guys think that because they don't get as much playing time as others they aren't as important, but then you also have the problem of those that think they are better than the rest because of their superior playing time. God had a plan for every single person on that team and they all have a special skill set that God gave them. I wanted to try and make that clear to my team and I wanted us to grow closer to each other and to God. We even had players that wouldn't celebrate with a player that scored or did well out of jealousy because they were in a position that they wanted. I knew that if we could some how overcome all of these issues in the team, we could make such a difference; not only on the field but off of it, because the body of Christ completely unified is a powerful weapon in this sinful world. 

I have noticed this same defect in the body of Christ off the field. So many people have been given such amazing talents from God, but because it's not as "important or "prestigious" they don't want to use it. My favorite part of the passage above is in verse 22: "On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable". God has given you your gift to glorify Him! He didn't give it to you for you to look good, or to collect worldly pleasures from it, no, He gave it to you to use for His honor! Their is no gift that is more pleasing or less pleasing to God. As humans we put values on different talents and gifts. We put some higher than others just because they seem more important to us, or just because they get more attention with their specific gift. God doesn't care about our worldly values! He just wants the body of Christ to come together as one and lift the name of Jesus! Don't covet over someone else's spiritual gift! Take yours and do everything you can possibly do to glorify the Creator! "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it". Just sit back and imagine what it would like if the body of Christ (the believers) was completely unified and used each of their parts to honor God.... Big things could happen in this world!

I am happy to say that the soccer team really listened that day and even applied it to the team. We have grown so much closer and have had a successful season thus far, and we are working on becoming one team, one family, and one body for Christ. Let's get excited about those special gifts that God has blessed us with and let's become one body, and lets infect this world!