A Part of It

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body…in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be…and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (1 Corinthians 12:4–7, 12, 18, 24-25, 27, NIV 1984).

My Musings – Years ago, when my son Joel was young, I received a 1,000-piece Norman Rockwell puzzle for Christmas from my wife, Eileen. I am a huge fan of his artwork, for the mood and stories they convey without words. Joel and I worked weeks to complete the puzzle, only to find one piece missing. We searched high and low for that puzzle piece. Only one piece missing. “If one [piece] suffers, every [piece] suffers with it.” (1 Corinthians 12:25–26, NIV 1984). If one piece is missing, every other piece cannot say, “I don’t need you!” (1 Corinthians 12:21, NIV 1984). Our sense of accomplishment was missing.

“If [the missing piece] is [found], every [piece] rejoices with it.” (1 Corinthians 12:26, NIV). Why? Because “The [puzzle] is a unit, though it is made up of many [pieces].” The mood and the story conveyed is restored. Now about our missing puzzle piece. As many of my readers are aware, my Eileen became completely blind when she was twenty-four. Before Joel was born, and long before the Norman Rockwell puzzle. The puzzle piece was not missing. It had been hidden. By Eileen. She wanted to contribute to the completion of the puzzle. To share in the sense of accomplishment. Because we were one body, one family. It was only one small piece, but without it the puzzle was incomplete. And not all of us could rejoice.

My Advice – Do not think that your gift, your service, your working is insignificant or unimportant. For, “God has arranged [for it] …just as He wanted.” That being the case, it is significant and important. Therefore, use it and do it faithfully. Don’t hide it.