What Can I Do?

You might wonder, “what can I even do?” If you do, I am glad you are thinking about how to help in the most important work on this earth. Furthermore, I want you to know we cannot do the work of the church as effectively as God intends without you. Each member of the Lord’s church is vital to the work. We have been added into one body (cf. Acts 2:47) and with that we must add works to our faith (cf. James 2:14-26). We must work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 3:12). Sincerely, your efforts are indispensable.

There Are No Indispensable Members

The Spirit informs us of our requisite service in the kingdom.

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit.

(1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

Our unity is found in the body of Christ as described in the Word of the Spirit. We were all burried in the same watery grave in the likeness of Christ’s death and raised to walk in the newness of life (cf. Rom 6:3-6). So if we were all saved in the same way and walk in the same new way, we must recognize that our work, regardless of station, is vital to the well-being of the Lord’s church.

Compensation Can Cause Pain Elsewhere

Two years ago I was working out and I mistakenly had the wrong type of shoes while I was back squatting. When I went down, I felt a sharp pain in my right foot. I thought it was minor and ignored it mostly for months. Finally, I realized that my foot hurt so bad that I was compensating for it as I walked and my hip began to hurt. It was only after several months of chiropractor visits that I felt almost normal. Can you see how important one part of the body is? If that one part is injured and not able to do its job, then other parts might try and compensate for that disengaged part and cause pain for other parts.

For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body. And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; it is not therefore not of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members each one of them in the body, even as it pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body?

(1 Cor 12:14-19)

Each part is important and we must not wish to be what we are not. Some of the greatest issues of weakness come in the body when hips are trying to compensate for the work of the foot that wishes it was not “just a foot.” The result is a deteriorating body. We cannot all be feet, hips, hands, or lips. If we were, we would be a horrid monster.

If we understand that we all have a job, ask yourself what are you qualified to do? We know elders oversee, shepherd, and lead the congregation while looking after the health of the congregation. We know preachers preach the Word. We know deacons lead in the works of the church while helping the members carry out those works. All members can help in many various ways. Can you write a card of encouragement, teach a Bible class,  attend to the maintenance of the building, cook a meal, visit a member in the hospital, et al?

            There are many things that we must all do. We all have responsibilities that as Christians we fulfill in our families, the local congregation, and the worldwide mission of the church. As John F. Kennedy said in his inaugural address in 1961, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country.” The same holds true for our attitude toward the work of the church. It should be a given that the church does serve each member of the church, but it cannot be a one-sided relationship. We all must remember for the greater health of the body all members must be active. If not, atrophy will set in and some parts might even become so weak that they are dead.

Every Member Is Working Toward the Same Goal

Finally, we must also remember that some abilities are more front of center. Songleaders lead up front. The preacher preaches up front. Does this mean that these members are more important than those who are more behind the scenes? Absolutely not! Those who are out front must not think of themselves more highly and remember our objective includes caring for each other.  The Spirit adds,

But now they are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of thee: or again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be more feeble are necessary: and those parts of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness; whereas our comely parts have no need: but God tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked; that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

(1 Cor 12:20-25)

It takes a whole body to carry on the work that God has given us all to do as the body of Christ. If we commit to doing so, we will not merely receive a perishable ring but an imperishable crown (cf.  1 Cor 9:25; Rev 2:10).