1 Corinthians 12:17-18 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
These verses continue the body illustration of how each member of the church has an important part in the mission of the church. Each member has certain gifts that enable him or her to do a ministry related to that gift. The job of an eye is to see. The job of an ear is to hear. The job of the nose is to smell. These do not get mixed up in the human body.
Why do believers not see how their gifts can be used in the church? There are several possible reasons. One is pride. People are unwilling to move forward in obedience to the Holy Spirit. This will take the commitment of consecration, to give up our own agendas and submit ourselves as living sacrifices to God’s will. Two is fear. People are afraid to step out of their comfort zones and attempt new things for God. The Holy Spirit will always lead us to grow into Christlikeness. Three is ignorance. They do not know how to serve or use their gifts. And four, the rest of the church has not recognized the person’s gift and open up doors of opportunity for them. Both the gifted person and the rest of the body must work together as a unit. Both have a responsibility in this.
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