“For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,’ it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not any eye, I am not a part of the body,’ it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
“But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’; or again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ On the contrary, it is much truer that the members the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body, which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our unseemly members come to have more abundant seemliness, whereas our seemly members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.” (1 Cor. 12:12-26).
Meditation on this passage is teaching me three specific things. First, I must not despise the absence of my gifts in others. Since it is God who distributes gifts, we must have faith that He is the architect of something far more beautiful than we could possibly imagine. Imagine a house made of nothing but laundry rooms! (I have literally dreamt of such a house!) Sure, there would be lots of clean clothes, and that work could be accomplished rather quickly, but where would you sit down? Where would you cook? Where would the children play? Where would you rest? My pride leads me to think that if my gift is to be an organizer, then everyone ought to be an organizer. “This is where it’s at! People who are unorganized are lazy and undisciplined!” The truth is God uses those who don’t have my gifts to reveal my pride and to lead me to repentance. What a valuable role they play!
Second, my gifts are given to me for the good of the body. As I prepared for vacation, my motivation was entirely selfish. I thought if I did the work ahead of time, I’d be free to sit back and relax. Never did it enter my mind that doing my work in advance would free me up to serve others! Are my gifts to be spent only for my own use? Imagine a hand that refused to brush the hair and teeth because they should take care of themselves. Absurd! I ought to expect that others will lack my gifts, and I should be happy to serve them as I enjoy the benefits of their gifts.
Third, I must not covet the gifts of others. How easy it is for me to look at things that others do well and feel inadequate because I am not gifted in the same way. This is pride, rearing its ugly head again, as I long to possess for myself all the strengths and none of the weaknesses of all of the body parts. Jealousy is a grievous sin in which I reveal my lack of faith.
In the coming weeks, we will be looking at the ways that these truths apply to our lives as workers, wives and mothers. May God give us grace to repent and live by faith!
Note: The women who post on our ClearNote Ladies' Blog have requested a room of their own where they are free to teach and have conversations without the complication of men responding to what they write. The blog, then, is by and for women. Brothers, we ask that you refrain from commenting. Thank you!
Comments
Thank you!!!!!
Thank you!!!!!
Thanks, Amanda. This was
Thanks, Amanda. This was something I needed to hear. This clearly addressed some issues I've been having at work and brought new perspectives to the situation that I hadn't even considered. =)
Dear Kim and Sandy, You're
Dear Kim and Sandy,
You're very welcome. May God give us humility as we live in this world together!
Amanda, Thank you for your
Amanda,
Thank you for your humility in writing, allowing us all to smile in understanding and at the same time recognize our own sin and grieve over the ridiculous and sinful ways we so often think.
Organization and punctuality
Organization and punctuality are not areas where I am gifted. I struggle with them constantly. Recently, I made a concerted effort to prepare for an event and get there early. It was difficult for me but I succeeded, and I was immediately amazed at the opportunities for serving others that immediately presented themselves, simply because I had arrived on time. I discovered that there's a whole rainbow of opportunities to "lend a helping hand" that I miss out on daily because I am a "latenik." My tardiness and disorganization often causes me worry and embarrassment, so naturally I want to change. But I hope that in my work of learning to be punctual, I can desire this "reformed behavior" for a godly reason of service and selflessness, instead of treating it like a self-help program to help me to "be all that I can be" and "fulfill my potential." I'm a soldier of the cross, not the hero in a Disney movie, right? Thanks, Amanda, for this Biblical application to a very practical, real-life scenario.
As I've though further about
As I've though further about this, I've been concerned that maybe I presented this in a way that makes it seem like I'm saying, "Hey! This is me. Take it or leave it!" We must never become complacent and cease to strive for growth, and especially to overcome sin. There is a difference between the humility that mourns our sin and presses on toward the goal and the pride that strives to come out on top. One leads to life. The other to death.
Michal, thank you for your further insight.
Hi Amanda, I'm glad you
Hi Amanda,
I'm glad you clarified this in your comment because as I was reading this post, I did start to think you were saying that some are organized, some aren't, and that's okay. Instead, I feel that we each have weaknesses and strengths, and for those of us who disorganization is a weakness (myself), we need to work harder on organization and not just say, that's not my gift so I'm not even going to try.
You last-minute host really should work on better planning despite a possible personality bent that has a love-affair with procrastination. But as God matures us and allows us to grow in obedience towards him, which will mean we become more diligent, better planners, that we always work first, have free time later--that maturity needs to also allow us to have grace for those who may be light years ahead of us in other crucial areas of maturity, but not necessarily as sanctified on the one minute point that God is currently impressing on us.
I can think of a woman I know who is an amazing, loving, affectionate mother, an encourager to younger women, a godly woman in many ways and gobs more spiritually mature than I am, but has a gloriously chaotic and disorganized home. The way I need to think about her is that her disorganization is just one tiny part of who she is as a woman. I should pray for her that God would grow her in this area, but do this realizing that she needs to pray for me that I would be more like her in 100 other ways.
I know I probably just restated everything you already said and didn't add anything, but writing helps me to think things through and I do it mainly for my own benefit, to get my thoughts in order.
Great post, Amanda, thanks for sharing.
Thank you Amanda for this
Thank you Amanda for this writing, my favorite bit of which was: "...pride, rearing its ugly head again, as I long to possess for myself all the strengths and none of the weaknesses of all of the body parts."
Seeking righteousness is godliness, especially in those places in our lives where we are lacking, but coveting our neighbor's gifts is sin.
I do strive with my wretched disorganization, and should more so, but I also will never, ever in this lifetime have the organizational ability of an Amanda Ewer. I have been blessed a hundred times over by how God has gifted you this way, but, even in my trusting of God to continue to strive with me in this area, and even with returning to Fly Lady a hundred times over, I will not suddenly be granted this as my strength in life.
There is wisdom in learning of yourself if God has seen fit to make you be a toe or a hand or a knee, and to accept with humility His composition of your strengths and weaknesses, then to glorify Him by using those strengths, and glorify Him even more by allowing His strength to be made complete in your weakness.
Thanks Amanda. I too
Thanks Amanda. I too frequently fall into thinking that God gives me gifts for my own glory, and that I'm free to decide when, where and how to use them and even to what end. However, when I follow that road, there is just sin at the end of it (usually in the form of desire for applause or amazement or admiration by others). When I give God's gifts up to Him, use them for His glory, and leave the results to Him, there is much more joy and peace.
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