We are Gifts for the Common Good
by Teri Anderson
Today’s Treasure
But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. …. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
I Corinthians 12:18-20, 24b-26
I grew up in a rough and tumble neighborhood full of boys. Being one of the only girls my age meant I was amazing at basketball, playing army, and Tarzan (I always got to be Jane). Fighting for my “place” in my neighborhood made me highly competitive. I was in college when Congress passed Title IX with its side effect of adding girls’ sports to schools, so all that physical skill developed growing up in my neighborhood had been put aside. I worked out my competitive nature in other ways, earning almost every Girl Scout badge and graduating as a high school valedictorian. Being so competitive made the Biblical concept of receiving God-given spiritual gifts at salvation mind-boggling. Not only could I not take credit for achieving any spiritual gift, but using them to “win” or to gain approval is not anywhere on the list of reasons why God gives them. What a humbling epiphany!
Purposes for spiritual gifts add support to the reality that we are united in Christ to each other, not just figuratively, but literally. 1 Corinthians 12:7 provides this reason. "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." Peter reinforces this truth in I Peter 4:10. “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace“ A gift becomes a gift when it’s given away. Our gifts are to benefit our brothers and sisters in Christ, “to be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” (Rom 1:12) Gifts, when shared, reflect the “God of endurance” we considered in yesterday’s treasure. Gifts are tools to help “keep” each other. Similarly, Paul tells the church that spiritual gifts are “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, (Eph 4:12-13). In this verse, we see that salvation creates a change in both our horizontal (God’s unified people) and our vertical relationships. Gifts help continue our transformation! Ephesians 4:16 expands the thought that when we are joined together and “each part is working properly” (in context, using our gifts), the body grows, “so that it builds itself up in love”.
LIFE GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT
Understanding WHY God gifts us, opens the door to HOW we share our gifts. How can we serve “the others” where God has placed us, “these people” in His body? How can we strengthen others, serve the common good, and mutually encourage each other’s faith? Perhaps it is more important to DO these things than to name the gift we are using to grow the body up in love. And perhaps a lesson learned from our recent season of staying at home and/or working from home is that we have tools we never imagined to reflect God’s varied graces. We CAN glorify Him by using our gifts in the body, even when we stay apart together. “If all were a single member, where would the body be?” (1 Corinthians 12:19)
PRAYER
Lord, although we have different gifts according to the grace given to each of us, help us remember that you’ve given them for building up the body in faith and love, no matter what our circumstances. You are the same God at work for the common good in all times and places. Help us not to neglect our gifts, even (or especially) when we are apart from each other, but still joined to the body of Christ.
Teri Anderson - Teri and her husband, Mark, are members of Spring Meadows PCA in Las Vegas, NV. They have two adult “kids,” a son-in-law, & enjoy their 4 year old granddaughter as often as possible! Teri taught high school English, Computer Technology, and Gifted Education before beginning her motherhood role & a resulting home-based Mary Kay Cosmetics business, becoming a “mompreneur“ before it was trendy! Currently, as an Independent Sales Director, she provides training and mentoring for women of all ages across the USA. In the volunteer world, she served several terms as a Women’s Advisor to the Board of Covenant College, and as an Alpha Omicron Pi VP and International Board member. Locally, Teri has served on the Women’s Ministry Team and taught Sunday School and Bible Study. She has served as a PCA Women’s Ministry Trainer and retreat speaker since 2001.
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Contact Sharon with comments or questions at dailytreasure@markinc.org.