1 Corinthians 12:12-18
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptised by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.
When I first began to build a team to lead children's ministry at Gateway I instinctively chose two types of people. 1. People just like me - dreamers, impulsive, straight shooters and 2. People who loved to encourage, people who just applauded everything I did. This team, I thought was perfect. I loved them, we had a great time together we spent all our time dreaming about the future of kids ministry and we were super encouraged in every decision we made.
The problem was...we got nothing done. I mean nothing, we came up with plans and visions and ideas galore but I had no one on the team that was capable of putting a process in place, thinking through strategically what we would need to do to actually reach the goals we were setting.
Even though we had a good time and felt really encouraged we were missing an integral part of the team unit and were were never going to achieve anything as a team if we didn't find those people.
When Paul speaks to the church in Corinth about them being like a body he makes five points.
1. God created us to be Interdependent not Independent (vs 12)
Throughout the bible we see leader after leader who needed people to complete the goal. Right from the beginning Adam needed Eve, Moses had Jethro and Joshua, Paul had Ananias, Barnabas and Timothy and Jesus had his disciples. In fact, even God operates in a sort of team being God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit all at once.
God never intended us to lead alone we are created to be interdependent not independent.
2. You do not need to become someone different to belong. (vs 14.15)
Psalm 139 tells us that we were each knitted together in our mother's womb by God and that each of us are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Why would we choose to change who we are to belong, when God has already made us perfect?
We can choose to judge ourselves and others and see weakness or we can value ourselves and others and see strengths.
3. There is great value in our differences (vs 17)
It is not enough in leadership to look around and value those around you. We, as leaders need to understand that we are lacking without others. We need others to do the work of the Lord. There is nothing more satisfying for me as a leader then to find someone I bring the best out in and who brings out the best in me. What I lack, she or he has in abundance. Our differences are what makes us as individuals stronger and even stronger as a team.
4. Our differences are designed to complete us not to defeat us (vs18)
In the last sentence of the passage Paul says "God has placed the parts of the body" in other translations we see the word "set" instead of "placed" and the meaning comes from jeweller's terminology. Like a master jeweller would carefully set a stone in a piece of jewellery so God sets us carefully to be a part of His body. A jeweller works tirelessly to set the stone perfectly to ensure the ring, necklace or bracelet is beautiful for a lifetime. So it is with God, He works all things together for good (Romans 8:28) we are placed perfectly to complete the body of Christ.
5. What you decide to do with differences will divide you or unite you.
Are you unique or are you different? Do those around you have strengths or weaknesses?
Division comes out of pride and arrogance. Unity comes out of humility and submission.
After having these realisations for myself I recruited Dani onto the team. Dani was and still is a God send. She is the complete opposite to me in every way. I'm fast paced, she is slow paced, I'm a dreamer, she's an applier, I think on my feet, she thinks over a number of days after considering all the options. She frustrates me no end (I think I frustrate her more) but when I need to be slowed or she needs to be faster we are perfect for each other. When something urgent needs to be solved I'm your guy, but when something needs pace, collaboration, a process - Dani is perfect.
Who is the better leader? The truth is, I am at my best when Dani is at her best and Dani is at her best when I am at my best, we are like two sharp items sharpening each other. That is the body of Christ at work and that is God's intention.
I thank God every day for Dani and the blessing she is to me as a leader and I am still trying to find more Dani's and Dani is always on the look out for a few Cath's. And we both need encourages to clap us on!
Where is your value in the body of Christ? and Who is sharpening your leadership edge?
