Same Kind of Different

The context for this weeks passage is Paul’s assertion that God has given all believers a gift from the Holy Spirit.

A few things of importance to keep in mind - the gifts is from God, we all have a gift, the Holy Spirit chose you to receive and use the gift He’s given you.

1 Corinthians 12:12–27 CSB

12 For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and we were all given one Spirit to drink. 14 Indeed, the body is not one part but many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I’m not a hand, I don’t belong to the body,” it is not for that reason any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I’m not an eye, I don’t belong to the body,” it is not for that reason any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But as it is, God has arranged each one of the parts in the body just as he wanted. 19 And if they were all the same part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” Or again, the head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that are weaker are indispensable. 23 And those parts of the body that we consider less honorable, we clothe these with greater honor, and our unrespectable parts are treated with greater respect, 24 which our respectable parts do not need. Instead, God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable, 25 so that there would be no division in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other. 26 So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it.

Paul’s uses the body as an analogy for the church and its use of spiritual gifts.

There is unity in our diversity.

The purpose for different gifts given to different people is so that we can function as one.

How un-functioning would a church be if there was only one gift at work?

Do not think your gift is less important than another.

Just like in the body there are no small parts.

All parts are necessary for the body to function properly - think about it, the smallest thing in the body doesn’t work properly and the whole body is off.

Do not think your gift is more important than another.

This is similar to the previous point except for the thought process behind the attitude.

If you think your gift is less important you are saying, “They don’t need me.”

If you think your gift is more important you are saying, “I don’t need them.”

God has given you your gift because He wants you to have it and use - if you take either attitude then you are in essence saying God doesn’t know what He is doing.

God gave the gift, embrace it don’t try to change it.

The gift you have been give is the part of the body you function as - it is for a purpose.

If we ignore or try to change our function the body cannot function properly.

If we try to make someone function in a way God did not intend them its like we are telling God He doesn’t know what He’s doing.

We are all in this together, through the good and bad.