<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the foot should say, \u2018Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,\u2019 is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, \u2018Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,\u2019 is it therefore not of the body?\u201d (1 Corinthians 12:15,16).<\/p>\n
DESPITE OUR TENDENCY TO WANT SOMEONE ELSE\u2019S ROLE, WE EACH NEED TO ACCEPT THE ASSIGNMENTS IN LIFE THAT WE OUR\u00adSELVES HAVE BEEN GIVEN. We can\u2019t excuse ourselves from our obligations simply because we lack someone else\u2019s abilities. This is especially important to remember if we\u2019re members of the body of Christ. If we\u2019re a \u201cfoot,\u201d for example, we must not say, \u201cBecause I am not a hand, I am not of the body.\u201d In Christ, it is God who has apportioned the various abilities: \u201cGod has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased\u201d (1 Corinthians 12:18). It is not good to question God\u2019s organization of the body.<\/p>\n
The \u201cbody\u201d is an apt metaphor for Christ\u2019s followers because a human body is an organism where each member is needed.<\/em> Some parts of the body seem to get more publicity, but no part is without an important use. And it is when all the parts work together healthily that the body functions as it was intended to function. Christ, of course, is the head, \u201cfrom whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love\u201d (Ephesians 4:16).<\/p>\n Humility means we try to see ourselves as God sees us. When we do this, we will not think too highly of ourselves (Romans 12:3), but neither will we think too lowly of ourselves. It is just as wrong to deny our abilities and dodge our duties as it is to be poisoned with pride. God is not pleased when we complain about the assignments He has given us. And it is not humility but false humility that causes us to deprecate ourselves and the tools that are in our toolbox. In truth, God has given to each of us the abilities that He has because those are the resources we need to do the work that belongs to us \u2014 right where we are.<\/em> It\u2019s tempting to think we could do a better job if we occupied someone else\u2019s place, but that is probably not true. If we won\u2019t serve Christ where we are, then we wouldn\u2019t serve Him anywhere else.<\/p>\n \u201cTrue humility consists in being satisfied with what we are asked to do. Do your assigned task with good cheer\u201d (Teresa of Avila).<\/p>\n Gary Henry \u2013 WordPoints.com + AreYouaChristian.com<\/p>\n