Fine Just As You Are

1 Corinthians 12: ¹⁴ For the body itself is not made up of only one part, but of many parts. ¹⁵ If the foot were to say, “Because I am not a hand, I don't belong to the body,” that would not keep it from being a part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear were to say, “Because I am not an eye, I don't belong to the body,” that would not keep it from being a part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were just an eye, how could it hear? And if it were only an ear, how could it smell? ¹⁸ As it is, however, God put every different part in the body just as he wanted it to be. ¹⁹ There would not be a body if it were all only one part! ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts but one body.

 

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After being talked about by many people, I wondered if I was broken beyond repair. Too skinny, too poor, too messy, too out of fashion were the many insults hurled at me. The world had placed negative labels on me that I wondered if they were true.

 

• I started to doubt my value.
• I wondered if I could amount to anything.
• I sometimes felt useless.

 

Paul explains that looking at someone else’s gifts and talents may cause a person to doubt the value of their own. He used an analogy of feet, ears and eyes to illustrate how necessary each person is to the body of CHRIST.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to value other people’s gifts and talents.
• GOD wants me to also value my gifts and talents.
• GOD wants me to understand that no one is inferior or superior.

 

Feeling “less than” is a serious problem. I mean, making someone feel less than their gifts and talents GOD has given them is a serious offense. But also, envying someone because of their gifts and talents can cause problems as well. What is the remedy? Be thankful.

 

When I am thankful for my gifts as well as other people’s gifts, I can broaden my world to more than me. My life becomes abundant when I praise GOD for others and for how HE made me. I am glad HE says “I saved you in the middle of your sins.” This shows me HE loves me just as I am.

 

Challenge

• What does this passage say about the “body?”
• What value do you place on your gifts and talents? How about other people’s gift?
• Will you seek to value how GOD made you and how HE made other people different for HIS purpose?

Valuing the Gift

 

Valuing the Gift

1 Corinthians 2: ¹³ So then, we do not speak in words taught by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, as we explain spiritual truths to those who have the Spirit. ¹⁴ Whoever does not have the Spirit cannot receive the gifts that come from God's Spirit. Such a person really does not understand them, and they seem to be nonsense, because their value can be judged only on a spiritual basis. ¹⁵ Whoever has the Spirit, however, is able to judge the value of everything, but no one is able to judge him. ¹⁶ As the scripture says,

 

“Who knows the mind of the Lord?
    Who is able to give him advice?”

 

We, however, have the mind of Christ.

 

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As the expert spoke to me about the car, all I could hear was “Don’t do this and don’t do that” or “Do this and do that.” I just wanted the car. After driving it for a while. Stuff started going wrong. The engine began overheating and the oil light came on. It cost a lot to get it fixed. I did not value the gift of experience he was trying to impart on me.

 

• Many times I did not value words from a gifted person.
• Many times I did not value the gift of wisdom because I was impatient.
• Many times I did not value experience because I just wanted the thing “I” thought was valuable.

 

Paul speaks candidly about spiritual truths. These words are wasted on those who do not value JESUS, rather they focus on human wisdom. Such a person does not understand the words of the SPIRIT because those words can only be valued on a spiritual level. The SPIRIT provides gifts that can only be received by those who believe in JESUS, who gives the HOLY SPIRIT.

 

• GOD says that I am able to judge the value of everything because I believe in JESUS.
• GOD says that I am able to receive the gifts HE has for me because I believe in JESUS.
• GOD says that I am able to teach HIS words because I believe in JESUS.

 

Human wisdom looks at the Word of GOD as nonsense. I mean, GOD can be explained away by human observation. After a while, humans become blind and depend only on what can be seen. BUT GOD blesses those who place their faith in HIM, especially when it does not make sense.

 

“Who knows the mind of the LORD?” “Who is able to give HIM advice?” No one. I am grateful GOD has accepted me into HIS family, placed the HOLY SPIRIT inside me and has given me the “mind of CHRIST” so I can receive the gifts of the SPIRIT.

 

1. Do you see all situations through your own wisdom or lusts?
2. Are you worried because of what you cannot see or control?
3. Will you quiet down and ask GOD to open your heart to HIS spiritual truths so the HOLY SPIRIT can enter and teach you gifts that are unimaginable today?

Ignorant

Luke 9: ⁴⁶ Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. ⁴⁷ And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, ⁴⁸ and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.”

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While talking to a “helper”, in the middle of my sentence one of the higher-ups walked into the room. Without finishing my sentence, I immediately turned around to greet the “noble” person and walked away from the “help.”

• There were times when I treated people differently.
• There were times when I viewed those with a title as being greater than those who did not have one.
• There were times when I placed a higher value on the “wisdom” of those in higher positions than those without positions.

After a dispute over who would be “greatest” JESUS looked into their heart at the root of their desires. HE may have seen arrogance and the ability to ignore the words people they did not value. JESUS may have known their ability to devalue the words of children so HIS illustration was clear.

• GOD wants me to value “everyone” because HE does.
• GOD wants me to seek to server everyone, not just the rich and powerful.
• GOD wants me to stop looking to be the greatest and allow HIM to have that classification.

Whenever I think I am greater than someone else, things go horribly wrong. My arrogance is increased followed by ignorant words that blow off those I thought were beneath me. JESUS wants me to be a servant and receive everyone HE sends to me or sends me to. GOD is the only one who is great.

• Do you chase those who have titles?
• Do you think someone is greater than another person?
• Will you seek to serve those who you feel do not deserve your servanthood?