WILL YOU FULFILL YOUR ROLE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST IN 2022?

Victor M. Eskew

 

 

            The moment we became Christians, God set us into the body of Christ.  Paul is clear about this in 1 Corinthians 12:18.  “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.”  God created you.  He knows your personality.  He knows your strengths and weaknesses.  He knows your knowledge.  He knows your potential.  Thus, He set you exactly where He wanted you in the body so you can be an asset within the church.

            Now that you are a member of the body, the question is:  “Will you fulfill your role in the body of Christ in 2022?”  Regardless of what member you are, you are needed.  “Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble are necessary:  and those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour:  and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness” (1 Cor. 12:22-23).

            Someone might ask:  “How do I fulfill my role in the body?”  The answer to that question is:  “By doing that for which you were designed.”  “For the body is not one member, but many…And if they were all one members, where were the body?” (1 Cor. 12:14, 19).   Another way to answer the question is:  “By using the talents that God has given you in as many spheres of the work of the church as possible.”  It is only when everyone does all that is supposed to be done that the body is properly functioning.  “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Eph. 4:16).  There are three phrases Paul uses in that one verse that emphasize every member of the body:  “the whole body,” “every joint,” and “every part.”  If just one member of the body fails to fulfill its responsibility to the body, the body suffers.  It may still get the job done, but other parts of the body have to pull the weight of the member who is not participating.

            Again we ask:  “Will you fulfill your role in the body in 2022?”  If not, what is your reason?  Or, perhaps we should ask:  What is your excuse? 

 

Are you too busy?  If so, you need to take proper account of your time.  Paul tells us that we are to redeem the time, because the days are evil (Eph. 5:16). 

 

Do you feel that physical things in your life right now are more important than the spiritual things?  If so, you need to reorganize your priorities.  Jesus teaches us this in Matthew 6:33.  “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” 

 

Do you feel that you will have plenty of time later in life to give yourself fully to the Lord’s service?  If so, you need to consider the words of the wise James.  He writes:  “”Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:  whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow.  For what is your life?  It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away” (James 4:13-14).

 

Have you just grown tired in your service to the Lord and feel you need a rest?  If so, the words of Galatian 6:9 are for you.  “And let us not be weary in well doing:  for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”  And the words of the inspired penman of Hebrews 12:12-13 also might help to encourage you.  “Wherefore lift up the hands which hand down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but rather let it be healed.”

 

Do you believe that you don’t have to fulfill your role because others will do it for you?  Paul corrects this thinking in his discussion of the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12:21.  “And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee:  nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.”  Dear readers, all are needed.  God did not create any vestigial organs.

 

Is the work of the Lord just not that important to you?  If so, your spiritual heart is experiencing a form of heart disease.  There is no more important work than the work of the Lord.  It involves souls.  It involves salvation.  It involves a world that lies beyond this life.  It involves the eternal destination of both men and women.  In days of old, Nehemiah understood the importance of the work God called him to do.  When he was tempted to get taken away from it, he responded, saying:  “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down:  why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?” (Neh. 6:3).  This is the same mindset that God’s people need to have today.  We have a great work to do.  We cannot let it cease. 

 

            Dear Christians, we are members of the body of Christ.  As long as we live, we have functions to accomplish as members of that precious body.  Question:  “How do you feel when a member of your physical body does not perform as it should?”  Does it aggravate you?  Does it upset you?  Does it hinder you?  Does it make your life a little more difficult?  Does it cause you to get less done that you intended to do?  Does it incapacitate you?  Yes!  Just one member failing to do its job can do one or more of these things to us.  When the member performs properly, we are extremely glad.  These things are true of the spiritual body as well.  One member failing to do his/her part can hinder the entire body.  Our prayer is that all Christians of the OceanSide congregation will resolve to fulfill their roles in the body of Christ this upcoming year.  If we do, we can do great things for the cause of Christ, or, as Paul says, we can make “increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Eph. 4:16).