That Doesn't Work for Me

A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.
1st Corinthians 12:7 NLT

How many times have you heard someone say when hearing the rules or the policy, "Yeah, that doesn't work for me" as though rules and policies are supposed to somehow line up with their individual ideas rather than the corporate. Unless your name is on the building, I'm pretty sure it's not about you. I know that may come as a surprise in this day and age, when everything seems to be about "me". What me wants. What me likes. What me thinks.

There are many talented people in this world, but we lose sight that those gifts are not all about "me" either - or at least they shouldn't be. We tend to lose sight of it also in our Christian walk. The Bible says we're a team. We're supposed to be working together to get Home. Verses 4-6 read, There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.  It's not about individual wins - it's the Body of Christ.

Verse 12 reads, For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. The purpose of our gifts are so we can help each other.  The gifts are not about making an individual who s/he is - it's about the collective gifts making the church whole, complete. Jesus prophesied in Matthew 16 that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church - the Body as a whole.

Pastor Alan used the game of baseball as a great illustration. One person isn't a baseball team. Even if one or two shine, one person cannot be the team. An opposing team will defeat one person. It doesn't matter how good you are - if the team doesn't win, you don't win. And sometimes, we have to sacrifice for the team. You may be the best hitter on the team, but if the situation calls for a bunt, you need to bunt. The Truth is, when we help our teammates score, we still win. 

We need to be of one heart and one mind, according to Scripture. We have one purpose and one plan - God's. It "doesn't work for me" because it shouldn't work just for me. We're called the Body of Christ. Our bodies are His temple. That would make it HIS Name on the building. It will work for US together. Let's lay our lives down in service to the Body of Christ. Let's help them get Home - then we all win!

Prayer:

Father,

           Help us to see with Your eyes - to be of one heart and one mind - executing Your plan, not ours. Change our hearts, O God! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen